OdishaPlus Bureau
Twenty years ago a heart-throbbing war was witnessed by the people of India. It was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan at the peak of Kargil. In the sound of the bullet, India was completely throbbed. Some of the brave soldiers became martyrs and some became injured. To remember that day India recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of the successful culmination of Operation Vijay against Pakistani infiltrators.
How the war was started at Kargil and what was the story behind the war. To represent that OdishaPlus is presenting a special presentation.
Eyewitness
Gharkon is a small village near Batalik town some 60km from the town of Ladakh region. In that village Tashi Namgyal, a local shepherd was looking for the missing yak he suddenly saw the Pakistani intruders. Tashi recalled how he spotted the Pakistani infiltrators on 1999 May 3. “On the morning of May 3, I had moved up with one of my friends some 5 km along Jubbar Langpa stream in search of my missing yak. I was scanning the mountainside through a pair of binoculars. And then I saw groups of men in Pathan attire and camouflaged Pakistani soldiers digging bunkers. Some of them were armed, however, it was not possible for me to ascertain their numbers. But one thing I was sure — they had come from the other side of the LoC.”
“I came down and promptly informed the nearest post of the Indian Army. My information alerted the Indian army and they cross-checked and found that my information about the intrusion of Pakistani soldiers were correct,” Namgyal said.
Alert
Information about Kargil reached at Delhi on 6th May 1999. At that time George Fernandes was the Defence Minister. Defense department was completely in stress that who and how entered the LOC. Defense department started an investigation in it. Defense department came to knew that Pakistan has entered the LOC and then started Mission Kargil. To know what is going on at Kargil some more soldiers were been sent to the Kargil on 1999 May 8. But where the rivals are and how did they entered they couldn’t find out. With very restriction, they kept their eyes on rivals.
Attack
Rivals came to know about the Indian soldiers’ presence at LOC. After that, they became very cautious. They kept a deep eye at the Indian soldiers. Not only that they are also giving detail information about Kargil to their godfather at Islamabad. To give the perfect attack to India they were playing the cards from Islamabad. On 1999 May 9, the first attack from Pakistan. On the first attack, they completely destroyed the weapons kept in the camp.
Strategy
After the destructions of weapons, India didn’t sit silently. They planned a strategy to give a reply to Pakistan in responding to the attack of Pakistan without the concern of the Defence Ministry.
Friendship
Three year before of disturbance at LOC former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee started his journey to Lahore by bus to attend a summit at Lahore. After reaching there, Pakistan gave a grand welcome to him. Pakistan soldiers also gave the guard of honour. To compromise the conflict between India and Pakistan Mr. Vajpayee visited Pakistan. In the symbolic importance to the governments of both nations to foster peaceful and friendly relations. Both the countries were agreed with the decision but the image completely changed after 3 months of arrival. They gave a very good answer of friendship to the India in return. Pakistan Army undertook a covert operation to send its troops into Kargil in Jammu & Kashmir that led to a limited conflict that Pakistan lost.
Intruder
To give befitting reply to the Pakistan attack India sent another two plateau of troops to Kargil. And captain Saurav Kalia was the in charge. After reaching there they started the planning to attack the intruder. Suddenly they got the news of murder of the captain at night by the intruders after kidnapping.
Not only that they used several guns and missiles and mines etc to destroy new building of the Indian army. To know about the intruder’s place of leaving India started patrolling very strictly. They came to knew that Pakistan intruders have created bunker of 122 kms from Moscow to Balaton.
Decision
On 1999 May 21 India took a very big decision. Chief of Army B.P Mallik discussed about present scenario of Kargil. On 23rd may he visited Kargil. Chief of Army discussed with Chief Marshall for the airstrike.
Air force
Former present Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 1999 May 25 played a vital role. While giving the details of the present scenario of Kargil in a Press Conference by the Vajpayee, air force Chief was preparing for airstrike. They started the mission of air strike from Pathankot and Srinagar air base.
On 26 from Srinagar and Pathankot airbase MIG-21, MIG-27 and MIG-17 Dras started its flying. It directly attacked to the intruders. From one side Indian army attacked where as from the other side Air force started attacking. From this Indian Mission ‘VIJAY’ started.
Triranga
After absconding the intruders from the LOC Indian army started the celebration. It was a challenge for the Indian army. To give the perfect answer this mission was started. To destroy the bunker of the intruders and to climb the mountain was a very big challenge for the Indian army. By taking it as the challenge they divided the there work and started there mission. After the 60 days of struggle on 26th July finally Triranga fluttered at the Kargil mountain peak. In the war 527 soldiers were martyred where as 1363 soldiers were injured.
Why Kargil war?
Before 1999 on 1971 there was an Indo-Pak war. In this war India defeated Pakistan. There was a very big victory against Pakistan. To take the revenge Pakistan was wondering. On 1999 Pakistan intruders have entered LOC has been said. Pakistan wants to capture DRAS and Kargil. Pakistan also tried to capture Kashmir. Intruders target was on Lahore-Srinagar national highway. By this road, all the weapons were coming to the Kargil and Kashmir camp.