Kargil Vijay Diwas: A Look At India's Victory 25 Years On In Rare Pictures

Kargil Vijay Diwas, celebrated every year on July 26, commemorates India's victory in the 1999 Kargil War. This important day pays tribute to the bravery of Indian soldiers who recaptured the areas infiltrated by the Pakistani army. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Dras in Ladakh on July 26, 2024, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this historic event.

The Indian Army has many stories of valor that are famous worldwide. One of them is the story of the 1999 Kargil War. This war was fought by Indian jawans at an altitude of around 18,000 feet and a temperature of -10 degrees Celsius. The Kargil War lasted for about two months. In this war, the Indian Army showed its bravery and valor and drove out the Pakistani army from the difficult peaks and hoisted the tricolor.

Every year on July 26, Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated to commemorate the victory of the Indian Army in the 1999 Kargil War. This year, the country is celebrating the 24th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. On this occasion, we tell you the things related to the Kargil War that every Indian should know.

Taking advantage of the absence of the Indian Army, the Pakistani army started climbing towards the Indian peaks and quietly crossed the LoC and occupied Kargil in Ladakh.

Every year, heavy snowfall occurs in the high-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir, due to which both the Pakistani and Indian armies leave their posts and move to lower places. In 1999, the Indian Army did the same, but the Pakistani army did not leave its post. 

The war between India and Pakistan lasted for about 60 days. Around two lakh soldiers participated in this war. Every Indian MiG-21, MiG-27, and Mirage-2000 fighter jets fired rockets and missiles. A large number of rockets and bombs were used. Around 2.5 lakh shells, bombs, and rockets were fired.

Around 5,000 artillery shells, mortar bombs, and rockets were fired daily from 300 guns, mortars, and MBRLs. It is said that after World War II, this was the only war in which such a large number of bombs were dropped on the enemy army.

The Indian Navy started Operation Talwar during the Kargil War to blockade Pakistani ports, especially Karachi, to stop the supply of oil and fuel.

At that time, seeing India's might, Pakistan also got scared and asked the US to intervene. But then-US President Bill Clinton rejected Pakistan's request.

On July 14, 1999, both countries stopped their actions on Kargil. After this, an agreement was reached between India and Pakistan on July 26, and the victory of the Kargil War was officially announced.