The Kargil War was fought between India and Pakistan in 1999. It began when Pakistan’s army entered Indian-administered Kashmir and occupied strategic heights in the Kargil district, confining Indian military forces to lower elevations. The war is a consequence of a Pakistan strategy named “Operation Badr,” aimed at penetrating the Indian-administered boundary in Jammu and Kashmir. The aim was to cut off the strategic Srinagar-Leh Highway (NH 1A) and isolate the region of Ladakh.
The Kargil Vijay Diwas translates as the Kargil Victory Day! The day is celebrated every year to monumentalize India’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War in 1999. The day honors the bravery and sacrifice made by Indian soldiers during the Kargil War. The successful operation against Pakistan was named Operation Vijay. Today, it’s the 24th anniversary of the Kargil War. The day’s motive is Honoring the soldier on Kargil Diwas on Kargil Diwas 2023. The Kargil War was pivotal for both Pakistan and the Indian army.
The Indian military, under the leadership of General Ved Prakash Malik, planned a counter-attack named “Operation Vijay“. The Indian army’s move was thundering, and the courage made an unbeatable resistance. The war ended when the Indian army acquired control of Kargil. The war is the result of more than 500 lives of Indian soldiers and officers.
Facts Of Kargil War
Operation Badr: The codename given by Pakistan to its military operation in Kargil was “Operation Badr,” named after the Battle of Badr fought by Prophet Muhammad in 624 CE.
Infiltration by Pakistani Soldiers: Unlike previous instances of insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, where militants and irregulars were involved, the Kargil War saw the direct involvement of regular Pakistani soldiers disguised as militants.
Role of Local Shepherds: The Indian Army’s efforts to push back the infiltrators were often supported by local Ladakhi shepherds who provided crucial information about enemy positions in the difficult terrain.
High Altitude Combat Aviation: The Kargil War was one of the first high-altitude combat aviation instances, where India and Pakistan employed attack helicopters in mountainous regions.
MIG-27 Upgrade: During the Kargil War, the Indian Air Force upgraded some of its MIG-27 fighter jets with laser-guided bombs to enhance precision targeting in the mountainous terrain.
India’s First UAV Attack: The Kargil War saw the Indian Air Force’s first usage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance and target acquisition, paving the way for their greater use in future conflicts.
Operation Safed Sagar: “Operation Safed Sagar” was the codename given to the Indian Air Force’s airstrikes during the Kargil War. It was launched to target enemy positions and provide support to ground forces.
Naval Blockade: In response to Pakistan’s actions in Kargil, India imposed a naval blockade on Pakistan’s port city of Karachi to put additional pressure on the neighboring country.
Ceasefire Violations: Even after the official end of the Kargil War, sporadic ceasefire violations have continued along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan.
Casualties Due to Artillery Shelling: Many casualties during the Kargil War were attributed to the use of artillery shells in the mountainous region, as shelling caused avalanches and unpredictable terrain conditions.
Burial of Pakistani Soldiers: Some of the Pakistani soldiers who died in the Kargil conflict were initially denied proper burials by Pakistan. They were buried secretly in unmarked graves in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and their families were not informed.
FAQ
The Kargil War is the most recent example of warfare in mountainous terrain. It also marks one of only two instances of conventional warfare between nuclear-armed states.
Pakistan
The sector has often been the site of border skirmishes between the two countries. The Kargil War is the largest and deadliest of these clashes. All this conflict began in early May when the Indian army learned that Pakistani soldiers had infiltrated the Indian-administered territory.
Captain Vikram Batra is considered the greatest hero of the Kargil War. Captain Vikram Batra was awarded Param Vir Chakra, Posthumous. He was born on 9 September 1974, in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh.
Vikram Batra is called the king of Kargil.
Karnal Sher Khan is fondly known as the Lion of Kargil.
Israel helped India during the Kargil War in 1999.
Both India and the Pakistan Army called it a victory with logic to support their point of view.
The Kargil War lasted almost two months. The Indian forces captured the infiltrated territories, forcing the Pakistani forces to retreat. The battle officially came to an end on July 26, 1999. The victory day is remembered as the Kargil Vijay Diwas.
General Pervez Musharraf is considered the Villain of the Kargil War.
Vijay Diwas marks the victory of Indian soldiers in capturing the mountain heights that were occupied by the Pakistanis. Kargil Vijay Diwas or Kargil Victory Day is celebrated every year on July 26.
Indian initiated its final attack on all the captured territories at the same time. Indians took back 80% control of the captured territory. In the end, Pakistan retreated because of the pressure of America.
The Kargil district was once known as Purig. It includes the areas around Kargil town, the Suru Valley, Shagh(k)ar Chiktan, Pashk(y)um, Bodh Kharbu, and Mulbek(h).
Indian army released an official list of casualty figures as 527 dead and 1,363 wounded. But there are different reports about Pakistan army losses. Pakistan confirmed that 453 soldiers were killed.
Pakistani estimates 357-4,000+ were killed and 665+ soldiers were wounded.
Kargil is called Kargil because it is mostly inhabited by Shia Muslims, and Agas are the religious head and preachers.
The code name for the Kargil War is Operation Vijay.
A Former IAF fighter pilot M.P. Anil Kumar wrote, “Kargil war happened because the agencies charged with intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance failed to smell what was cooking on the other side of the Line of Control despite Skardu and its precincts turning into a beehive of military activity.”
During the war, the PAF’s director of operations reported that there were isolated instances of IAF and PAF fighters locking on to each other with their onboard fire control radar.
527 Indian soldiers died in the Kargil War. On the other side, Pakistani report the death count between 357 and 453.
The Kargil War happened around 55 days.
The Kargil War was a three-month-long skirmish between India and Pakistan. It commenced in May 1999 when approx
