Kargil Vijay Diwas, celebrated every July 26, marks a significant moment in India’s history—the victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil War.
25 Years of Kargil Vijay Diwas 2024
Kargil Vijay Diwas, celebrated every July 26, marks a significant moment in India’s history—the victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil War. This day honors the courage and sacrifice of Indian soldiers who defended the nation’s sovereignty. PM Narendra Modi visited Drass in Ladakh on July 26, 2024, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of this historic event.
The Roots of Kargil Vijay Diwas
The history of Kargil Vijay Diwas dates back to the tumultuous period between India and Pakistan, which saw major conflicts, including the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh. Despite signing the Lahore Declaration in February 1999, aimed at peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, the peace was short-lived. Pakistani soldiers and militants infiltrated the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir in the winter of 1998-1999, occupying strategic positions to disrupt the link between Kashmir and Ladakh.
Operation Vijay and the Kargil War
In May 1999, the Indian Army discovered the infiltration, prompting the launch of Operation Vijay. The conflict, known as the Kargil War, involved intense battles in the challenging mountainous terrain of the Kargil district and along the Line of Control (LoC) from May to July 1999. The Indian Army successfully recaptured key positions, including Tiger Hill, after fierce fighting. The war culminated on July 26, 1999, with India securing victory but suffering significant casualties, losing nearly 490 personnel.
Operation Safed Sagar
Operation Safed Sagar was the code name assigned to the IAF’s role in acting jointly with the Indian Army during the 1999 Kargil war that 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. It was the first large scale use of Airpower in the Jammu and Kashmir region since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
Kargil War 1999
The Lahore Declaration signed by the then Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif on 21 February 1999 brought prospects for intensified efforts to resolve all contentious issues between India and Pakistan, including on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. The fourth Indo-Pak war, and the first under the nucellar umbrella commenced in May 1999 with the foray of nearly 1500 Pakistani intruders into Indian territory of Kargil District, inviting a military response from India.
Casualties
The victory came at a high price. The official death toll on the Indian side was 527, while that on the Pakistani side was between 357 and 453.
