Here's a flashback to the war that India's brave soldiers and won 8,780 feet above sea level, in a just response to Pakistan's antics. Know the history of the Kargil War and how and why India celebrates 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' every year.
On July 27, India celebrates the 21st anniversary of the victory of the Indian Armed Forces in 'Operation Vijay' against the infiltrating Pakistani troops. The anniversary is observed each year across the nation to show respect and gratitude to the brave servicemen of the armed forces who laid down their lives to re-capture all positions that had been seized by the Pakistan Army. The day is called 'Kargil Vijay Diwas'.
Here's a flashback to the war that India's brave soldiers and won 8,780 feet above sea level, in a just response to Pakistan's antics. Know the history of the Kargil War and how and why India celebrates 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' every year.
1. Escalating military tensions since 1971 Indo-Pakistani War
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A reason for the Kargil War is considered to be the escalating military tensions between the India and Pakistan following the 1971 war between the two countries, which aggravated over time and more recently, culminated in the nuclear tests in 1998.
The direct cause of the war was the infiltration of Pakistani soldiers disguised as Kashmiri mujahideen militants into positions on the Indian side of the LOC, which serves as the de facto border between the two states. The infiltration was codenamed "Operation Badr", its aim was to sever the link between Kashmir and Ladakh, and cause Indian forces to withdraw from the Siachen Glacier, thus forcing India to negotiate a settlement of the broader Kashmir dispute.
2. Pakistan infiltrates, India answers
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On May 10, the infiltrations were first noticed in Dras, Kaksar, and Mushkoh sectors. In mid-May, the Indian Army moved in more troops from Kashmir Valley to the Kargil Sector and soon after, the Indian Air Force launched airstrikes against the infiltrators.
As Pakistan stepped up the attacks, the Indian Army recovered documents indicating the Pakistan government's official involvement. On June 6, the Indian Army launched a major offensive in Kargil. Throughout the month, the Indian Army fought bravely and launched a three-pronged attack in Kargil, which forced the Pakistani army, bereft of food and supplies, to back down as India's soldiers approached Tiger Hill.
3. Indian Air Force proves to be game changer in the Kargil War
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The Indian Air Force's role in acting jointly with Indian Army ground troops during the war was aimed at flushing out regular and irregular troops of the Pakistani Army from vacated Indian Positions in the Kargil sector along the Line of Control.
This particular operation was given the code name Operation Safed Sagar. recaptured a majority of the positions on the Indian side of the LOC infiltrated by the Pakistani troops and militants. Facing international diplomatic opposition, the Pakistani forces withdrew from the remaining Indian positions along the LOC.
4. India owes its victory to all the braveheart soldiers of the armed forces
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The war is the most recent example of high-altitude warfare in mountainous terrain, and as such posed significant logistical problems for the combating sides.
It is also the sole instance of direct, conventional warfare between nuclear states (i.e., those possessing nuclear weapons). India had conducted its first successful test in 1974; Pakistan, which had been developing its nuclear capability in secret since around the same time, conducted its first known tests in 1998, just two weeks after the second series of tests by India.
On July 14, Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declares Operation Vijay a success, and days later, the Indian Army announced complete eviction of the Pakistani intruders.
