India is observing the 21st Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas on Sunday (July 26) to commemorate, honor, and respect the martyrdom of the brave Indian Armed forces personnel who laid down their lives to uphold and safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of the nation during the 1999 Kargil War.
The year 1999 was the last year of the previous century and also ushered the world into the new millennium. It was also an inflection point of sorts in India's military history as India successfully accomplished Operation Vijay during the 1999 Kargil War to reclaim and recapture the icy heights and lofty peaks on the treacherous ridgelines of Kargil and Drass sector of Ladakh region from the Pakistani-backed infiltrators.
In the early summer of 1999, from what initially got flagged off as unconfirmed reports (May3-4) of a few incursions gathered from local shepherds in the Dras-Mushkow sector, went onto getting established as a major infiltration by Pakistan Army backed infiltrators on certain key features/heights of the Kargil-Dras ridgeline, which served as massive vantage points overseeing the strategic National Highway 1 (NH1) that connected Srinagar to Ladakh...
Intelligence inputs further established the fact that adversaries (infiltrators) were deep trenched and well stocked with both ammunition and logistical support on the strategic peaks of the Kargil and Drass section. This formed the very background of what unfolded as a limited military confrontation between the Indian Army and Pakistan-backed militia and got more famed in the media as the '1999 Kargil War'.
A response had to be given with full effectiveness and efficacy to the adversary and the Indian Army launched Operation Vijay to reclaim territories that rightfully belonged to India.
Spine chilling winds, sub-zero temperatures, treacherous terrains, and the enemy staring at our Armed Forces from pivotal heights made the battle dynamics look impossible but not unconquerable for our armed forces..The odds looked tectonic but were never too much for the battle-hardened Indian Army, which had proved its mettle in the past during both the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak Wars and 1962 Sino-India Conflicts, undertaking herculean operations in mountain warfare.
The Bravehearts infantry troops were tasked to launch assaults to capture glacial heights and lofty peaks in Tololing, Battalik, Turtuk, Jubar, and Khalubhar ...The fearless attacks were undertaken generally during the night, braving not only the enemy bullets but also traversing steep gradients and negotiating sheer cliffs.
Be it Jai Maha Kali Aayo Gorkhali, Jo Bole So Nihaal Sat Ari Akal or Jat Balwan Jai Bhagwan, the battle cries of the Gurkha, Sikh, Jat, Rajput and Dogra troops among others were heard out loud and sent down shivers into the hearts of the enemy...The infiltrators occupying the daunting heights sprayed bullets and pounded boulders, mortar, and arty shells to make every ascend forward suicidal in the open and barren terrain devoid of natural camouflage. However, the sheer spirit, courage, and morale of the Army troops helped them thwart every enemy attack and proceed towards their ultimate target.
One by one, the death-defying assaults were undertaken by 16th and 18th Battalion of Grenadiers, 2nd and 11th Battalions of Rajputana Rifles (2 and 11 Raj Rif), 1/11 Gorkha Rifles (1/11 GR) and 13 Battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (13 Jak Rif), 17 Jat Regiment, 1st Naga among other infantry battalions accomplished herculean missions to clear out infiltrators and reclaim key features like Tiger Hill, Tololing Top, Three Pimples and Jubar Heights.
Acts of unparalleled bravery and exemplary courage were exemplified by Param Vir Chakra awardees like Captain Vikram Batra ( Posthumously) and Rifleman Sanjay Kumar (13 JAK Rif), Lieutenant Manoj Pandey (Posthumously, 1/11 Gorkha Rifles) and Grenadier Yogendra Yadav (18 Grenadiers) to flutter the Indian flag on those lofty features.
While the infantryman kept inching forward, the gunners from the artillery made a stellar contribution in helping the infantry troops undertake their assaults with timely and lethal cover fire. The 155 mm FH 77 Bofors Howitzers and the 130 mm Field Guns proved to be the game-changing weapon in the Kargil War as the artillery guns pounded deep trenched enemy positions with devastating shelling. The Aviators of the Army Aviation played their part by carrying out reconnaissance missions to track enemy hideouts and provide invaluable intelligence information ...Last but not least, the yeoman service provided by the Army Service Corps and Army Ordnance Corps in providing ammunition, weaponry, rations, and clothing into the battle trenched Kargil-Drass sector cannot be forgotten.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) swung into the action to support the Indian Army assaults with their mission coded 'Safed Sagar'. IAF used limited and measured firepower by carrying out aerial attacks by sorties flown by the MiG 21 and Mirage 2000 fighter jets. The IAF fighters were highly successful in destroying a deeply trenched enemy with the precision-based bombing.
Over 500 Indian Army personnel fell in the line of duty to pay the ultimate sacrifice to reclaim the infiltrated territories. After enduring a two-month-long battle, the Indian Army was eventually successful in pushing back the infiltrators and recapturing the peaks that very much belonged to India. On July 26, the Army declared Operation Vijay a success after a complete eviction of the Pakistani intruders.
With over two decades gone by since the 1999 Kargil War; the saga and glory of indomitable bravery and valiance of the officers and troops of the Indian Army who turned the tide of many death-defying battles to win the Kargil War is remembered by commemorating the Kargil Vijay Diwas on till every day July 26.