Kargil Vijay Diwas

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KARGIL WAR…

On this day 21 years ago on 26 July 1999, the Indian army captured all the Indian posts in Kargil that was occupied by the Pakistani army. Since then, every year July 26 has been observed as Kargil Vijay Diwas for the sacrifices made by our soldiers in this war. Here is the detail that we need to know about this war:

How, when, and where the Kargil war happened.

• The war took place in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kargil district between May to July in the year 1999.

• The conflict is said to be arranged by then Pakistan Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf without telling then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

• It began with the intrusion of both Pakistani troops and terrorists into Indian territory.

• These intruders placed themselves in those positions which gave them a lot of advantages during the beginning of the war.

• Based on the information provided by local shepherds, the Indian Army was able to find the location of these intruders and launched “Operation Vijay”.

The Kargil War

• As the Pakistani soldiers and terrorists placed themselves at higher altitudes, they got an advantage during the war, as they were easily firing down the Indian soldiers who were coming towards them.

• During the war, Pakistan shot down India’s two fighter jets while one fighter jet crashed during the operation.

• Pakistan asked the USA to interfere in the war but then USA president Bill Clinton declined to provide help to Pakistan until the Pakistani troops withdrew from the LOC (Line of Control).

• As Pakistani troops withdrew from the LAC, the Indian armed forces attacked the rest outpost and managed to get back all the post by July 26.

Vijay Diwas

The Indian army declared the operation Vijay successful in July 26,1999. Since then every year on 26 July, Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated.

Casualties

For this great war, both the Indian Army and Pakistani Army had to pay a huge price. A total of 527 soldiers lost their lives in this war from the Indian side while on the Pakistani side about 357 to 453 soldiers died.

After the Kargil war

• Initially, Pakistan denied his any role in the conflict and said that India was facing off with those Kashmiri Freedom fighters, but later it awarded its soldiers medal for the conflict, removing the doubt of their involvement.

• After this war, the Indian government increased its expenditure on the defense sector, in the very next year after the Kargil war.

Gallantry Awards to our brave soldiers after the Kargil war:

• Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav,18, Grenadiers, Param Vir Chakra

• Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey,1/11 Gorkha Rifles, Param Vir Chakra, Posthumous

• Captain Vikram Batra, 13 JAK Rifles, Param Vir Chakra, Posthumous

• Riflemen Sanjay Kumar,13 JAK Rifles, Param Vir Chakra

• Captain Anuj Nayyar, 17 JAT Regiment, Maha VIr Chakra, Posthumous

• Major Rajesh Singh Adhikari,18 Grenadiers, Maha Vir Chakra, Posthumous

• Captain Haneef-Uddin,11 Rajputana Rifles, Vir Chakra, Posthumous

• Major Mariappan Saravanan, 1 Bihar, Vir Chakra, Posthumous

• Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, Indian Air Force, Vir Chakra, Posthumous

• Hawaldar Chuni Lal, 8 JAK Rifles, Vir Chakra