About Kargil Vijay Diwas:
- Kargil Vijay Diwas, also known as Kargil Diwas, is celebrated annually on July 26 to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War.
- The day celebrates the courage and sacrifice of Indian soldiers who valiantly defended the nation’s sovereignty.
- The year 2025 marks the 26th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Key Facts about Kargil War:
- It was fought between India and Pakistan between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and along the Line of Control (LOC).
- Cause:
- In an effort to ease these tensions, India and Pakistan signed the Lahore Declaration in February 1999, which aimed for a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir issue.
- However, during the winter of 1998-1999, Pakistani forces secretly infiltrated the Drass and Batalik sectors of Kargil in the Ladakh region.
- Their objective was to capture positions that would allow them to monitor and potentially control movements along the vital NH 1A highway.
- Initially, the Indian military mistook these infiltrators for insurgents.
- As the scale of the infiltration became apparent, India mobilized nearly 200,000 troops to counter the threat, leading to the onset of the Kargil War.
- Operation Vijay: The Indian Army fought bravely and recaptured the famous ‘Tiger Hill’ and other important posts under ‘Operation Vijay’ by evicting the Pakistani troops in the 1999 Kargil War.
- High Altitude Warfare: It was fought at extreme altitudes, with some of the battlegrounds reaching heights of over 18,000 feet.
- Duration: It lasted for approximately three months.
- Armaments:
- The Indian Army employed heavy artillery, airpower, as well as major infantry operations during the Kargil War.
- In a first, the Indian side used the Bofors FH-77B howitzers to shoot down enemy positions nested at the top of the mountains.
- Israel provided their Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to India during the conflict.
- Live on TV: It was the first ever war to be broadcasted live on TV channels in India.
- The End of Conflict: The war came to an end on July 26, 1999,when India successfully pushed back the Pakistani forces from the occupied positions.
- Casualties: As per official figures, around 500 Indian soldiers laid down their lives while at least 1,000 Pakistani troops were also killed.
- It was the last war that happened between India and Pakistan.
