Kargil War

The Kargil War, also known

as the Kargil conflict, was an
armed forces fought between
India and Pakistan from May
to July 1999 in the Kargil
District of Kashmir and
elsewhere along the Line Of
Control (LoC). In India, the
conflict is also referred to
as Operation Vijay (Vijay
meaning ‘Victory’) which
was the name of the Indian
Military operation to clear out
the Kargil sector. 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 Pakistan Army from vacated Indian positions
along the LoC. This particular operation was given the
codename Operation ‘Safed Sagar’ (Safed Sagar meaning 'White
Sea').

The cause of the war was the infiltration of Pakistani troops—disguised

as Kashmiri militants—into positions on the Indian side of the LoC.
During the initial stages of the war, Pakistan blamed the fighting entirely
on independent Kashmiri insurgents, but documents left behind
by causalities and later statements by Pakistan's Prime
Minister and Chief Of Army Staff showed the involvement of Pakistani
paramilitary Forces, led by General Ashraf Rashid. The Indian Army,
later supported by the Indian Air Force, recaptured a majority of the
positions on the Indian side of the LoC. Facing international diplomatic
opposition, Pakistani forces withdrew from the remaining Indian positions
along the LoC. The war is the most recent example of high – altitude
warfare in the 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).

After the Indo – Pakistan War 1971, there had been a long period with
relatively few direct armed conflicts involving the military forces of the
two neighbours—notwithstanding the efforts of both nations to control
the Siachen Glacier by establishing military outposts on the surrounding
mountains ridges and the resulting military skirmishes in the 1980s.
Some analysts believe that the blueprint of attack was reactivated soon
after Pervez Musharraf was appointed chief army staff in October
1998. After the war, Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan during the
Kargil conflict, claimed that he was unaware of the plans, and that he
first learned about the situation when he received an urgent phone call
from Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his counterpart in India. Sharif attributed the
plan to Musharraf and "just two or three of his cronies ", a view shared by
some Pakistani writers who have stated that only four generals, including
Musharraf, knew of the plan. Musharraf, however, asserted that Sharif
had been briefed on the Kargil operation 15 days ahead of Vajpayee's
journey to Lahore on 20 February 1999.
There were three major phases to the Kargil War. First, Pakistan
infiltrated forces into the Indian-controlled section of Kashmir and
occupied strategic locations enabling it to bring NH 1 within range of its
artillery fire. The next stage consisted of India discovering the infiltration
and mobilising forces to respond to it. The final stage involved major
battles by Indian and Pakistani forces resulting in India recapturing most
of the territories held by Pakistani forces and the subsequent withdrawal
of Pakistani forces back across the LOC after international pressure.
Because of its close proximity to the line of control, Kargil has often been
the site of border conflicts between India and Pakistan. The largest and
deadliest of these clashes was the Kargil War, which took place in May–
July 1999. In early May the Indian military learned that Pakistani fighters
had infiltrated Indian-administered territory.

Kargil war consists of 6 major battles and 2 major operations. These are
BATTLE OF TIGER HILL : Tiger Hill
was one of the highest peaks in the
Dras - Kargil Sector. Eviction of
Pakistani troops from this feature was
one of the most important objectives
for the Indian Army during the Kargil
operation and the peak was
recaptured on 04 July 1999.

BATTLE OF POINT 4875 : Point 4875 located

in Mushka Valley dominated National Highway
from Dras to Matayan. The troops of Indian
Army fought valiantly to recapture this
strategically important peak.

BATTLE OF TOLOLING : Indian Army

launched its attack on Tololing in the last
week of May 1999. Point 4590 was
captured on of June 1999. Tololing was
captured by
gallant troops by
12 June 1999.
BATTLE OF KHALUBAR : Khalubar Ridge due to its location, dominates
all approaches towards the Line of Control, Our Artillery destroyed
enemy sangars, disrupted immunisation & supply lines, Some of the
most heroic deeds of valour were witnessed in this sector.

OPERATIONS IN KAKSAR : This was the area

where the first Indian patrol while moving to re-
occupy the winter vacated posts, got ambushed.
When a search party was attacked, the
seriousness of situation emerged. This Sector saw
bitter fighting and Indian Army launched multiple
attacks to dislodge the Pakistanis.

OPERATIONS IN BATALIK : The first success

of Operation Vijay was achieved in this Sector in
the area of Rockfall on 09 June 1999. The
subsequent attacks were launched on Point
4875, Garhi, Point 5000 and Jubar Complex.
The Batalik Sector was cleared of the enemy by
07 July 1999.
Kargil Vijay Diwas is a day of inspiration for every Indian when the
grateful nation proudly remembers the saga of courage and
determination of our brave soldiers. After the war our soldiers were
awarded with medals. Hero of Kargil war was Captain Vikram Batra, who
sacrificed his life for India while fighting Pakistani intruders. After the
Kargil war, Captain Batra was posthumously honoured with Paramveer
Chakra, India's highest military award. Other who got medals are
Rifleman Sanjay Kumar was honoured by Maha Vir Chakra, Granadier
Yogender Singh Yadav was honoured by Vir Chakra and Lieutenant
Manoj Kumar Pandey was honoured by Sena Medal. Operation Vijay
was one of the toughest and longest campaigns of modern times. Indian
soldiers fought legendary battles in Dras, Kaksar, Batalik and Turtuk
Sectors at height above 12000 feet. The Kargil War is remembered for
the determination and daring young leadership as well as raw courage of
our Jawans.