On Tuesday, India honoured the heroic sacrifices and bravery of the fallen heroes in retaking various mountain heights taken by Pakistani intruders in Kashmir, celebrating the 23-year anniversary of its victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War.
On July 26, 1999, Operation Vijay was successfully completed.
After Pakistani troops penetrated India on May 8, 1999, the Kargil conflict broke out in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir as well as other flashpoints along the Line of Control. Before the war broke out, the invaders had crossed the Line of Control into Indian territory and taken up residence in fortified defences that overlooked the NH 1A in the Kargil’s Drass and Batalik Sectors of the Ladakh region with the sinister intent of controlling all military and civilian traffic on the road.
Indian forces had made a gallant onslaught on the well-fortified and defended regions, braving unparalleled difficulties and facing the dangers of nearly impassable terrain and harsh climatic conditions. The military project was known as “Operation Vijay.” In the meantime, the Indian Air Force entered the conflict with “Operation Safed Sagar,” in which the IAF utilised high-precision bombs to target the enemy for the first time.
After over three months of combat on the ice heights of Kargil, the Indian Army declared victory.
In the illustrious engagements that took place in the Dras, Kaksar, Batalik, and Turtok Sectors, India had lost about 500 soldiers.
