Kargil Vijay Diwas 2024: Commemorating India’s heroic victory over Pakistan in 1999
Today India is completing 25 years of victory in the Kargil war fought against Pakistan. On 26 July 1999, the Indian Army recaptured all military posts in Kargil that were occupied by Pakistani soldiers and terrorists. In honor of the successful mission of the Army (called Operation Vijay), 26 July is celebrated as Kargil Vijay Diwas every year since then.
Prime Minister Modi Tributes Kargil Soldiers
On 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas, the nation honours the gallant efforts and sacrifices of our Armed Forces. We stand eternally grateful for their unwavering service.https://t.co/xwYtWB5rCV
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2024
President Draupadi Murmu Tributes Kargil Soldiers
कारगिल विजय दिवस हमारे सशस्त्र बलों के अदम्य साहस और असाधारण पराक्रम के प्रति कृतज्ञ राष्ट्र द्वारा सम्मान प्रकट करने का अवसर है। वर्ष 1999 में कारगिल की चोटियों पर भारत माँ की रक्षा करते हुए सर्वोच्च बलिदान देने वाले प्रत्येक सेनानी को मैं श्रद्धांजलि देती हूं और उनकी पावन…
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 26, 2024
Kargil Vijay Diwas
- Date: Tuesday, 26 July 2024
- Significance: Victory and end of the Kargil War
- Observed by: India
The Beginning:
After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, relations between India and Pakistan were strained but the countries deferred military conflict until the Kargil War. However, during the 1990s, rising tensions and conflicts due to separatist activities in Kashmir, as well as nuclear tests conducted by both countries in 1998, reinforced this impending conflict.
Both sides also signed the Lahore Declaration in February 1999 in Lahore, promising a peaceful and bilateral solution to all issues, including Kashmir. However, in the winter of 1998–1999, elements of the Pakistani Armed Forces sent Pakistani troops and terrorists across the Line of Control (LoC) into Indian territory.
It was named ‘Operation Badri’. This was done to undermine India’s military position in the region and break the link between Kashmir and Ladakh, causing the Indian Army to withdraw from the Siachen Glacier and call for a settlement in the Kashmir dispute.
The war:
In the Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir, the Kargil War broke out in May 1999. India sent several soldiers to the front line during the two-month-long conflict as part of “Operation Vijay”. India won the conflict on 26 July 1999. This conflict with Pakistan was made in three phases.
A part of Kashmir was under the control of the Indian Army during the first phase, and with the help of local herders, the Indian Army began to capture important transport routes during the second phase. With the help of the Indian Air Force, the Indian Army completed the task of expelling Pakistani soldiers in the third and last phase.
The most important lesson that India learned from the Kargil conflict is that the essential needs of national security should not be compromised. After India won the war, Pakistan denied its involvement in the war. Pakistan blamed the Kashmiri separatists. But later They were seen giving medals to their soldiers engaged in the Kargil war.
