Celebrating 24 Years of Kargil Vijay Diwas

“I am a Soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight.”?That is the motto of Indian soldiers who fight for our country, India. They don’t even think twice while putting their lives at risk to save the country’s pride, honor, and future. In order to honor our?‘Bharat Ke Veer Jawan’, we celebrate the Kargil Vijay Diwas on 26th July, every year.

This blog is a token of a small tribute to all the Indian soldiers who fight day and night just to safeguard our country and its citizens. Let’s know more about the Kargil war on the occasion of?24 years of Kargil Vijay Diwas!

What is Kargil Vijay Diwas?        

Kargil Vijay Diwas is commemorated on July 26 in honor of the troops who gave their lives in the Kargil conflict. The war lasted from May 3 to July 26, 1999, after Pakistani soldiers were discovered at the top of the Kargil highlands. This day marks the success of “Operation Vijay,” which was started in 1999 to reclaim Indian territory taken by Pakistani invaders in the Kargil-Drass region. The Kargil War happened for more than 60 days and ended on 26 July 1999, thus making it the Kargil Vijay Diwas.

THE CAUSE OF THE KARGIL WAR        

The infiltration of Pakistani forces dressed as Kashmiri militants into positions on the Indian side of the LoC, which acts as the de facto boundary between the two nations in Kashmir, was the cause of the conflict. Initially, Pakistan attributed the battle to independent Kashmiri militants, however, documents left behind by victims and subsequent admissions by Pakistan’s Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff revealed the involvement of Pakistani paramilitary troops led by General Ashraf Rashid. The Indian Army, subsequently aided by the Indian Air Force, reclaimed the bulk of locations on the Indian side of the LoC.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE KARGIL WAR?        

The situation escalated further when both nations conducted nuclear tests in 1998. To ease the tension, they signed the Lahore Declaration in February 1999, which aimed to seek a peaceful and bilateral resolution to the Kashmir conflict.

During the winter of 1998-1999, the Pakistani armed forces covertly trained and deployed troops to cross the Line of Control (LOC) and seize fortified positions that overlooked NH 1A in the Drass and Batalik Sectors of Kargil, Ladakh region. Their objective was to gain control over both military and civilian movements in the area.

At the outset, the Indian troops believed that the infiltrators were terrorists or 'jihadis' with a radical agenda. However, as events unfolded, it became evident that the attack was part of a larger and more organized plan. In response, the Indian side was compelled to retaliate and deploy a massive force of over 200,000 Indian troops in the region.

The war came to an end on July 26, 1999, But the victory came at a great cost. The official Indian death toll was 527, while the Pakistani death toll was between 357 and 453.

KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS: The KARGIL WAR MEMORIAL        

The Kargil War Memorial was built by the Indian Army in November 2014. It is located in Dras, in the foothills of Tololing Hill. The memorial commemorates the martyrs of the Kargil War. A poem called?‘Pushp Ki Abhilasha’, which means?‘Wish of a Flower’?by Makhan Lal Chaturvedi has been inscribed on the gateway. The names of the soldiers who lost their lives in the War are inscribed on the Memorial Wall. A museum attached to the Kargil War Memorial has been established to celebrate the victory of Operation Vijay. This museum has pictures of houses and family members of Indian soldiers along with archives of important war documents and recordings, war equipment and gear, and official emblems of the Army from the Kargil war.

On Kargil Vijay Diwas, we commemorate the bravery and commitment of our armed forces in protecting our country. Their bravery continues to inspire future generations. This is all We need to know about the Kargil Vijay Diwas.?