Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri militants infiltrated into positions on the Indian side of the LOC which serves as thede factoborder between the two nation and this was the immediate cause of the Kargil war. Initially Pakistan had claim that the fighting in Kargil sector was entirely due to independent Kashmiri insurgents, but documents left behind bycasualtiesand later statements by Pakistan’sPrime MinisterandChief of Army Staff showed involvement of Pakistaniparamilitaryforces led by GeneralAshraf Rashid .
This conflict is one of the most recent examples ofhigh altitude warfare in mountainous teritory which posed significantlogistical problemsfor the combating sides. Like other areas in theHimalayas, Kargil has a streinouse climate. Summers are cool with frigid nights, while winters are long and chilly with temperatures often dropping to −48°C (−54°F).
Indiannational highwayNH 1D connects Srinagar toLeh which cuts through to Kargil. This 160 Km long stretch connecting Leh and Srinaga was the area which witness infilitratio and warefare. The military outposts on the ridges above the highway were generally around 16,000ft to 18,000ft. Apart from the district capital, Kargil, the populated areas near the front line in the conflict included the Mushko Valley and the town ofDrass, southwest of Kargil, as well as the Batalik sector and other areas, northeast of Kargil. Kargil is t 107mile from the Pakistani-controlled strtagetic town ofSkardu, which provided logistical and artillery support to Pakistani infiltrators and their artillery personnel.
“Operation Badr” Was aimed to break the link between Kashmir and Ladakh, and cause Indian forces to withdraw from theSiachen Glacier, thus forcing India to negotiate a settlement of the broader Kashmir dispute at the Pakistan’s term and conditions. Pakistan also believed that any tension in the region would internationalise the Kashmir issue..
Kargil War can be divided in three phase —–
(1) Pakistan infiltrated forces into the Indian-controlled section of Kashmir and occupied strategic locations enabling it to bringNH1within range of its artillery fire.
(2) The Secod stage consisted of India discovering the infiltration and mobilising forces to respond to it and
(3) The final stage, involved major fighting 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 Line of Control becase of the valor and expectional fortitude of the Indian soldiers who gallentally pushed and drove back the Pakistani inflitrators supporated by Pakistani forces..
It is being said that around 30000 Indian soldiers were involved the in themilitary operationon the Kargil-Drass sector. Huge number of infiltrators and Pakistan’s miletray persons were involved in this conflict.
TheIndian Air ForcelaunchedOperation Safed Sagarin support of the mobilisation of Indian land forces, but its effectiveness during the war was limited by the high altitude and weather conditions, which in turn limited bomb loads and the number ofairstripsthat could be used. TheIndian Navyalso prepared to blockade theKarachi port to cut off supply routes underOperation Talwar.The Indian Navy’swesternandeastern fleets also joined in the NorthArabian Seaand began aggressive patrols and threatened to cut Pakistan’s sea trade. This exploited Pakistan’s dependence on sea based oil and trade flows.All in all the Artillery, Airforce and the Indian Navy exbited joint example of a unique operation to vanquish and destroyed the evil designs of the Pakistani Army and the armed infiltrators.
Once India regained control of the hills overlooking NH 1D, the Indian Army turned to driving the invading force back across the Line of Control. TheBattle of Tololing, among other assaults, slowly tilted the combat in India’s favour. The Pakistani troops at Tololing were aided by Pakistani fighters from Kashmir. Some of the posts put up a stiff resistance, including Tiger Hill (Point 5140) that fell only later in the war. Indian troops found Pakistani soldiers at Tiger Hill, and both sides suffered heavy casualties. After a final assault on the peak in which 10 Pakistani soldiers and 5 Indian soldiers were killed, Tiger Hill finally fell to us.
TheBoforsFH-77B field howitzerplayed a vital role, with Indian gunner’s recapturing nearly 75% to 80% of the intruded area and recapturing all high ground areas to reclaim strategic control of the area.
President Clinton refused to intervene until Pakistan had removed all forces from the Indian side of the Line of Control. Beide USA, G8nations, TheEuropean Union and Other organisations like theASEAN Regional Forumtoo supported India’s stand on the inviolability of the LOC. Following the Washington accord of 4 July 1999, when Sharif agreed to withdraw Pakistani troops, most of the fighting came to a gradual halt, but some Pakistani forces remained in positions on the Indian side of the LOC. In addition, theUnited Jihad Council(an umbrella for extremist groups) rejected Pakistan’s plan for a climb-down, instead deciding to fight on. The Indian army launched its final attacks in the last week of July; as soon as the Drass subsector had been cleared of Pakistani forces, the fighting ceased on 26 July. The day has since been marked asKargil Vijay Diwas(Kargil Victory Day) in India.
Heroes of the Kargil War
Besides the Valient Anuj Nayyar, Vikram Batras and Yogender Yadav there wer many others outstanding courageous soldiers namely Captain Jerry Prem Raj, Captain Shashi Bhushan Ghidiyal, Subedar Raghunath Singh and Havildar Sis Ram Gill and hundreds of unsung Heroes. We salute all the brave warriers whoobtained mMartydom for the cous of the Motherland—-Har Shaid ko SALAM aur hmaree Rashtree kee surksha ke liye shat-shat NAMAN—Jai Hind-Jai Bharat, Jai Jawan Jai Kishan
Compilied by Dr. J. K. Garg
Referencese—-wikeepedia, Google search, clips of various news Papers and pages of my Diary etc.
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