New Delhi: The chiefs of three defence services — Army chief General Manoj Pande, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, and Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari— laid wreath at the National War Memorial here on Tuesday on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas to commemorate the valour of fallen heroes during the 1999 Kargil War.
Every year on July 26, the nation observes Kargil Vijay Diwas marking India's victory over Pakistan.
The Kargil War was fought between May 8, 1999, and July 26, 1999, against Pakistani intruders who transgressed into Indian territory crossing the Line of Control (LoC) in the winters of 1998 and occupied fortified defences overlooking the NH 1A in Kargil's Drass and Batalik Sectors of Ladakh region with a nefarious aim of dominating all military and civil movement on the highway.
During the war, the Indian Army evicted Pakistani intruders and succeeded in recapturing Tiger Hill and other posts as a part of "Operation Vijay".
Tributes were paid to soldiers who lost their lives in the 1999 war at Kargil War Memorial in Drass.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi saluted the brave sons of the country who achieve the height of valour in the defence of the motherland. "Kargil Vijay Diwas is a symbol of pride and glory of 'Maa Bharati'. On this occasion, my salute to all the brave sons of the country who achieve the height of valour in the defence of the motherland. Jai Hind," said the PM in a tweet.
The newly elected President of India Droupadi Murmu said said 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' is a symbol of the extraordinary valour of the armed forces, and people will always be indebted to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives to protect Mother India.
"Kargil Vijay Diwas is a symbol of extraordinary bravery, valour and determination of our armed forces. I bow to all the brave soldiers who laid down their lives to protect Mother India. The country will always be indebted to them and their family members. Jai Hind," Murmu said in a tweet in Hindi.