At the Kargil War Memorial in Dras on Saturday, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh presented a memento to the family members of a martyred soldier.
On the 27th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the Shaurya Sandhya programme at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras on Saturday. The event was part of the two-day Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations.
Addressing the soldiers, Rajnath Singh said that the country still faces serious challenges. He said the intentions of infiltrators have not changed and they continue to use methods such as proxy war and infiltration. He expressed full confidence that the Indian Army is fully prepared to deal with every such challenge.
What else did the Defence Minister say? 6 points
- The government is giving special priority to the modernisation of the armed forces. The Army should have the latest equipment and the best training.
- This is India’s century, and the future belongs to the country. The Indian Armed Forces will become the best in the world.
- As long as Indian soldiers have inner strength and a strong spirit of nationalism, no country will dare to threaten India.
- Among all Army traditions, ‘Bada Khana’ (grand meal) is one of the most heartwarming.
- It is the only occasion when soldiers and officers sit together and share the same meal, reflecting a strong spirit of teamwork.
- The real strength of soldiers lies in rising above social differences, and it is this strength that helps India win wars like Kargil.
The Defense Minister had a meal with military officers and jawans in Dras.
War lasted for about 84 days
After Pakistan’s infiltration on 5 May 1999, a war broke out between India and Pakistan in the Kargil hills. The conflict lasted for about 84 days.
The war officially ended on 26 July 1999 with India’s victory. Every year, Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed on 26 July to honour the bravery and sacrifice of the Indian soldiers who fought in the war.
India fought Kargil War through Operation Vijay
The Kargil War began after Pakistani soldiers secretly occupied the high mountain positions in Kargil and set up their bases.
On 8 May 1999, around 12 Pakistani soldiers captured the Azam post in Kargil.
At first, the attack was believed to have been carried out by infiltrators. However, it later became clear that the Pakistani Army was directly involved.
The presence of the Pakistani soldiers was first spotted by an Indian shepherd, who informed the Indian Army about the infiltration.
Initially, India believed only a small number of militants had entered the area, so only a limited number of soldiers were sent. However, when Indian troops came under attack from several mountain peaks, it became clear that this was part of a much larger operation.
Defence Minister George Fernandes immediately cancelled his visit to Russia, and India launched Operation Vijay.
Since Pakistani troops were positioned on higher ground, Indian soldiers faced major difficulties. They often climbed steep mountains at night to avoid being seen by the enemy. During the early stages of the war, the Indian Army suffered heavy losses because of these difficult conditions.
India attacked with MiG-29 and Mirage-2000 fighter jets
The Indian Air Force and Navy also played a crucial role in the war.
The Air Force carried out strikes on Pakistani positions using MiG-29 and Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft. During the conflict, Pakistan shot down two Indian fighter jets, while another aircraft crashed.
The Indian Navy launched Operation Talwar, blocking routes to several Pakistani ports, including Karachi, to stop supplies of oil and fuel reaching Pakistan during the war.
India also deployed its naval fleet in the Arabian Sea and disrupted Pakistan’s maritime trade routes.
A major turning point came when India deployed Bofors guns on the battlefield. Combined with air strikes by the Air Force, the heavy artillery forced Pakistani troops to retreat.
The fighting continued for about two months. During the war, 527 Indian soldiers were martyred, while around 3,000 Pakistani soldiers were killed. However, Pakistan officially claims that 357 of its soldiers died.
On 26 July 1999, India recaptured the last remaining peak in Kargil, marking the country’s victory in the war.
