Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023: History and Significance

Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed on July 26th, commemorates India's victory over Pakistan in 1999 Kargil War. It honors the brave soldiers who reclaimed territories along the LOC during Operation Vijay.

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Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023

After 24 years of its victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War, India is commemorating its 24th Vijay Diwas, remembering the indomitable courage, sacrifices and valour of the fallen heroes in recapturing several mountain heights seized by Pakistani infiltrators in Kashmir. Operation Vijay was successfully carried out to finally recapture occupied Tiger Hill in the Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir on July 26, 1999. Since then, every year on July 26, events and programmes are held across the country.

This year, the Indian Army commemorated the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass. The Prime Minister, in a Hindi tweet, emphasized that Kargil Vijay Diwas is a poignant reminder of the exceptional courage exhibited by India’s unmatched warriors, who will forever remain a source of inspiration for the nation. In the meantime, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tribute to the heroes of the Kargil war by laying a wreath at the Dras war memorial.

According to PTI, the two-day commemoration event to observe Vijay Diwas and honour the sacrifice of the 559 soldiers in the 1999 Kargil war began with a solemn ceremony on Tuesday. From the Lamochen viewpoint, war heroes and the families of the fallen soldiers gathered to pay homage to the brave souls. Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, the Northern Army Commander, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The event was followed by a cultural program in the presence of Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande.

All you need to know about Kargil Vijay Diwas

While the 60-day-long war brought about the loss of a few lives on both sides, India in the end won the informal war by recovering control of all the recently held regions, restoring business as usual.

The Kargil War was fought against intruders from Pakistan. During the winter of 1998, they crossed the Line of Control (LoC) into Indian territory. They took up residence in fortified defences that overlooked the NH 1A in the Drass and Batalik Sectors of Kargil in the Ladakh region. This battle was fought from May 8 to July 26 in 1999, at an altitude of approximately 16,000 ft in which 1,042 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 527 Indian soldiers lost their lives. Finally, it came to an end with the success of Operation Vijay. From that day, every year India recollects the fearlessness, penance and model fortitude of our fighters.

Operation Vijay, Safed Sagar and Operation Talwar

With the mobilisation of more than 2,00,000 troops of the Indian Army, India responded to Pakistani infiltrators with Operation Vijay. The government took the decision of involving airforce in the Kargil War on May 25. And this operation was given the code-name Operation Safed Sagar.

And not just Army and Indian Air Force, but the Indian Navy too strategically mounted pressure on Pakistan through Operation Talwar. The Navy was patrolling off the Pakistani coasts during the war aggressively.

And with the cumulative success of all three branches of armed forces, the Kargil War finally came to an end on July 26. That was the day when Indian soldiers were able to flush out all the Pakistani infiltrators from their illegally occupied positions and marked this day as Kargil Vijay Diwas.

FAQs

What is Kargil Vijay Diwas?

Kargil Vijay Diwas, also known as Kargil Victory Day, is observed on July 26th every year to commemorate India's momentous victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War in 1999.

What is the significance of Kargil Vijay Diwas?

Kargil Vijay Diwas holds significance as it honors the bravery and sacrifice of Indian troops who fought valiantly to drive Pakistani invaders out of Tiger Hill and other locations on the Indian side of the Line of Control during the Kargil conflict.

How many soldiers lost their lives during the Kargil War?

Over 500 soldiers lost their lives during the more than 60-day-long armed battle in Kargil, Ladakh.

When did the Kargil War end?

The Kargil War came to an end on July 26, 1999, when India successfully drove Pakistani troops out of its area after the Indian Air Force demolished Pakistan's unauthorized outposts.

What is Operation Vijay?

Operation Vijay was a three-month-long military operation along the Line of Control to reclaim territories occupied by Pakistani invaders during the Kargil War.