INDIA CELEBRATES 21 YEARS VICTORY OF KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS
Bureau,Odishabarta
DELHI:Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated on July 26 – the day the over two-month-long war ended in 1999 after Indian troops recaptured the positions that were intruded upon by Pakistani soldiers – every year to honour the soldiers who laid down their lives in the war.
The Kargil War took place in 1999 between 8 May, when Pakistani forces and Kashmiri militants were detected at top of the Kargil ridges. It is believed that Pakistan was planning for the operation by early as the autumn of 1998.
On this day in 1999, Indian armed forces snatched back one of the most hard-fought victories in history. Sitting on their high vantage points, Pakistan could see Indian Army’s every move, they bombed National Highway 1, Kargil’s only link to rest of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, to block supply lines but Indian troops marched on with aerial support from the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Soon, key positions like Tololing and Tiger Hill were taken back by India and amid international pressure, Pakistan announced the withdrawal of its troops. All Pakistani forces were pushed back by July 26, the day we now know and celebrate as Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Major Sonam Wangchuk, while leading a column of Ladakh Scouts in Batalik Sector, launched a raid on the enemy position from a flank, killing enemy soldiers. He was awarded Maha Vir Chakra, India’s second-highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.
This year we will be observing the 21st anniversary of the successful ‘Operation Vijay’. The day will be devoted to remembering the courageous souls, brave hearts, and dedicated lives of soldiers who participated in the operation successfully regained the control and earned the victory for the nation.
Operation Vijay’ was launched by the Indian Army to clear the Kargil sector. The Indian Air Force’s role in acting jointly with Indian Army ground troops during the war was aimed at flushing out regular and irregular troops of the Pakistani Army from vacated Indian positions in the Kargil sector along the Line of Control (LAC).
#agency
