New Delhi: India is set to celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26 to remember the heroes of the Indian Army who sacrificed their lives for the nation. In the armed conflict that went on for more than 60 days at Kargil in Ladakh, Indian soldiers evicted Pakistani intruders and recaptured Tiger Hill and other posts. The war was fought under ”Operation Vijay”.
Every year, Indians pay homage to the soldiers who laid down their lives for the nation. Moreover, several events are also held across the nation to remember the contributions of the Indian Armed Forces.
Why does India celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas?
The Kargil started in the month of May 1999 in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kargil district. It is reported that the then Pakistan army head General Pervez Musharraf engineered the battle without even informing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The battle ended with the declaration of victory by India on July 26, 1999. In the two-month-long battle, India deployed its 200,000 soldiers by launching ‘Operation Vijay’.
The war was fought against Pakistan in three phases. In the first phase, the Indian soldiers controlled a section of Kashmir. In the second phase, the Indian army started capturing strategic transportation routes and took the help of local shepherds to get intelligence.
In the third and final phase, the Indian Army with the help of the Indian Air Force concluded the mission of evicting Pakistani soldiers.
However, the victory came with the loss of the life of 527 soldiers, as per the official records. Among the soldiers who lost their lives in the battle, Captain Vikram Batra was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously.
Marking the day of victory, Kargil Diwas or ”Kargil Vijay Diwas’ is celebrated in honour of the Kargil War’s Heroes. Every year, Prime Minister pays homage to the soldiers at Amar Jawan Jyoti, located at the India Gate.