In the hot summer month of May 1999, along with the melting snow on the Himalaya mountains, there was the resonating sound of bullets and missiles. As the deadly Kargil War played out, it had a deep impact on India and Pakistan relations. India successfully won the war on July 26, marking the day as Kargil Vijay Diwas. City Express checks out the heroism and the bravery that saved the day
Regions that were touched
The war which started in peak summer affected populated regions of Kargil, Mushko Valley and the town of Drass, as well as the Batalik sector and other areas. These were the populated areas near the front line. The war lasted for more than 60 days and ended on July 26, 1999.
Operation Vijay
The Government of India avoided the usage of the word ‘war’ for conflict, even though both nations indicated that they were in a “state of war”.
Terms like Kargil conflict, Kargil incident, or Operation Vijay, were used. They however called it war by the end of it. Third Kashmir War is another less popular term used to remember the day
Cause of the war
The war that took the life of close to 500 soldiers and left close to 3000 wounded was due to the infiltration of Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri militants into positions on the Indian side of the LoC, which serves as the de facto border between the two states.
Ye Dil Mange More
Does this phrase ring a bell? The slogan though was coined for an ad campaign of a cool drink, became a battle slogan and rallying cry during the Kargil War. It was first used by Captain Vikram Batra and widely reported in the media.
Nicknamed as Sher Shah, Captain Vikram Batra, was posthumously awarded with the Param Vir Chakra – India’s highest and prestigious award for valour – along with Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey and Rifleman Sanjay Kumar.
The End
Pakistan had to withdraw its forces from Line of Control due to international diplomatic opposition.