Kargil Diwas

The Kargil War, also known as the Kargil conflict, was an armed confrontation between India and Pakistan that held place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil province of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control. In India, the dispute also relegated to as Operation Vijay which was the name of the Indian strategy to vacate the Kargil district. The Indian Air Force's position in working jointly with Indian Army ground troops during the clash was aimed at flushing out regular and irregular combatants of the Pakistani Army from vacated Indian Positions in the Kargil sector along the Line of Control. This special operation was given the protocol name Operation Safed Sagar.

The Kargil war was fought for surplus than 60 days, ended on 26 July and resulted in death on both sides. The war ended with India recouping control of all the formerly held territory, therefore re-establishing status.  Kargil Vijay Diwas is commemorated on 26 July every year in honour of the Kargil War's Heroes. This day is celebrated in the Kargil–Dras sector and the national capital New Delhi, where the Prime Minister of India pays tribute to the recruits at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate every year. Functions are also arranged all over the country to honour the contributions of the armed forces.

The most important lesson that India learnt from the Kargil imbroglio is that the essential requirements of national security should not be compromised. Successive governments in Islamabad have sought with varying degrees of intensity to destabilise India, wreck its unity and challenge its integrity and this is unlikely to change.

In international politics, the policy of mutual friendship and cooperation with one’s neighbours has to be balanced with vigilance. A neighbour’s capacity to damage one’s security interests should never be underestimated, leave alone disregarded.

India must remain on guard against such sinister operations being launched in future by Pakistan’s vengeful and devious military leadership that continues to have a hate-India mindset and the mentality of primitive warlords.

Here's what Lt Colonel Austin Collaco(Retd) has to say about Kargil diwas

This day that year, another forgotten day for most of us, but not for the Armed Forces. 21 years have passed by when India won a decisive victory over Pakistan and regained all heights and area forcibly occupied by a terror state, Pakistan. The 84-day war lasted from 3 May to 26 July 1999. Lives, dear to mothers, fathers, wives, sons, daughters were aimlessly lost for no valid reason. A war, which Pakistan knew it could not sustain, as India will never let go of an inch of its land. A plan which failed before it was discussed by Pak Generals in the Operations Room.

The war was fought in inhospitable terrain in Kargil, J&K. Defensive positions at heights varying between 16000 to 18000 feet,(That’s 10000 feet short of Mt.Everest) were taken over by rouge Pakistani troops. These heights are vacated during winters by Indian Army, as they have decreased tactical value, as harsh winter and snow conditions in that area, makes living impossible. Depending on the weather conditions, these posts are occupied during summer months in May or June. These vulnerable heights provide a commanding view of the main supply line(Road) to Leh. Possession of these heights thus has a Tactical advantage. All convoys moving from Srinagar to Leh, have to ply on this road , hence its importance during summer months cannot be underestimated. The Kargil heights dominate this road. This supply line also caters to our troops logistical needs, deployed on the Saichen Glacier.

During the war,fighting at dizzy heights was a task only professional soldiers could handle. Training in Mountain Warfare, top physical conditioning, unorthodox tactics with brilliant minds and tactics, won us the War in Kargil. Small Tactical Teams, trained and fit, scaled peaks and mountains and completely surprised the Pakis. Some Pakis fought, but some ran too, as the might of our troops was too hot to handle, by some Pakis. The Indian Air Force flew their formidable sorties, and their exploits have been discussed, till cows come home. The Ladhakis, locals from Ladhak, were an asset and helped in every way they could.

Precious lives were lost on both sides, let's not be inquisitive to find out the numbers. War is ugly, war is bad, war is painful. Peace requires a better chance in today’s world. Let us all remember our lost heroes today. To all those Martyred, rest in peace mates, and I quote……." When you go home, tell them of us, for your tomorrow, we gave our today "

Jai Hind!

Navy's role in Kargil as described by than Cdr Utpal Datta.

Remembering my experience with Army Aviation on Kargil Diwas

As the Kargil's decade-old victory celebrations and Euphoria into tears for some, draw to an end, little do people know about the Indian Navy role in this otherwise Army-Indian Air Force conflict of 1999 shot on the icy peaks of Drass and Kargil from May to July 1999.

Commander Utpal Datta - a helicopter pilot with the Indian Navy who was then posted in the Cochin based INS Garuda, as an executive officer of the base reminisces his 77 hours which he clock during Operation Vijay between June 4 - 22, 1999 with satisfaction and pride.

As far as lessons are concerned, the 42 year old pilot who flew mainly the cheetahs in the actual battle zone, thereby becoming the first and the only naval pilot to have been involved directly with the conflict during Kargil War. " We did our best and there was total professionalism from the Army as far as supporting us was concerned. There was continuous shelling from the other side but there was no time to think about anything and we had to carry out the operations which we were tasked for". Cdr Datta recalls being attached to the Army's 663 R&O Squadron when the conflict broke out. The Squadron was tasked with casualty evacuation and providing water, logistics and ammunition to the troops in the forward zone. He and his team should exemplary courage in evacuating casualties at an altitude which is not possible for a cheetah, but Datta was part of a team which carried back casualties in each sorties and drop them to the make-shift hospital in Ghumri for immediate relief who was later lifted in Mi-17 Choppers to Base Hospital, Srinagar.

As far as observation were concerned Datta told, 'We did low- lying flying which is dangerous in a battlefield, but only through low-lying flying in the five-seater cheetah, we came across snow marks during surveillance, sortis which were compared and this helped the army units in locating the infiltrators fighting in that area. Covering an area more than 138 kms through his sorties in Drass and Kargil. Datta says "Choppers are the only lifelines in this battle zones and since there was no night flying permitted we used to wait for the first light of the day when the information was passed on to resume again. Sleeping for just 4 to 5 hours in the entire day was a regular scenario.

Datta was posted in Bareilly part of a Goodwill exchange program between the Navy and the Army before being sent to Kargil. He ends by saying-"the tenure with the Army aviation was the most memorable, unforgettable and satisfying experience.

Here's what Head Constable Bhavana Vishnu Chodankar from Mapusa police station got to say about Kargil Diwas

The Kargil war was the last time India and Pakistan came to a full-blown armed conflict. As Indian soldiers fought valiant battles to reclaim the heights of Kargil, India finally recaptured all the peaks by July 26, 1999, bringing the Kargil conflict to an end.

Let us take a moment on this Kargil Vijay Diwas to remember those who fought bravely and gave their lives in exchange for the safety of billions. That feeling of fighting for a greater good is the true spirit of a soldier. The Kargil war is a depiction of how loss can embitter a victory and make us wonder to what extent we have to keep what is ours safeguarded.