The Kargil War, an armed conflict between India and Pakistan took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LOC). In India, the conflict was referred to as Operation Vijay (Hindi: विजय, literally “Victory”), which was the name of the Indian operation 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. This operation was given the code name Operation Safed Sagar (Hindi: ऑपरेशन सफेद सागर, lit ‘Operation White Sea’).
Conflict events (1999)
There were three major phases of the Kargil War. First, Pakistan infiltrated forces into the Indian-controlled section of Kashmir and occupied strategic locations enabling it to bring within the range of its artillery fire.
Next stage consisted of India discovering the infiltration and mobilising forces to respond to it.
The final stage involved major battles 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 LOC after international pressure.
3 May- Pakistani intrusion in Kargil reported by local shepherds.
5 May-Indian Army patrol sent up; 5 Indian soldiers captured and tortured to death.
9 May-Heavy shelling by Pakistan Army damages ammunition dump in Kargil.
10 May-Infiltration first noticed in Dras, Kaksar, and Mushkoh sectors.
Mid-May-Indian Army moves in more troops from Kashmir Valley to Kargil Sector.
26 May-IAF launches air strikes against infiltrators.
27 May-Two IAF aircraft one MiG-21 and one MiG-27 were shot down by an Anza Mk-II of Pakistan army air defence corp; Flt.Lt Kambampati Nachiketa taken POW.
28 May-IAF MI-17 shot down by Pakistan; four air crew dead.
1 June-Pakistan steps up attacks; shells NH 1.
5 June-Indian Army releases documents recovered from three Pakistani soldiers indicating Pakistan’s involvement.
6 June-Indian Army launches major offensive in Kargil.
9 June-Indian Army re-captures two key positions in the Batalik sector.
11 June-India releases intercepts of conversation between Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf, while on a visit to China and Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen Aziz Khan in Rawalpindi, as proof of Pakistan Army’s involvement.
13 June-Indian Army secures Tololing in Dras
15 June-U.S. President Bill Clinton, in a telephonic conversation, forced Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff to pull out from Kargil.
29 June-Pakistani army’s food and weapons supply line was cut by their own Prime Minister, so they moved back and Indian Army forwarded towards Tiger Hill.
2 July-Indian Army launches three-pronged attack in Kargil
4 July-Indian Army recaptures Tiger Hill after an 11-hour battle.
5 July-Indian Army takes control of Dras. Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif announces Pakistan Army’s withdrawal from Kargil following his meeting with Clinton.
7 July-India recaptures Jubar Heights in Batalik.
11 July-Pakistan begins pull out; India captures key peaks in Batalik
14 July-Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declares Operation Vijay a success. Government sets condition for talks with Pakistan.
26 July-Kargil conflict officially comes to an end. Indian Army announces complete eviction of Pakistani intruders.
Sources:www.news18.com ;Wikipedia; ADGPI-Indian Army
A Tribute to the Kargil Soldier
I know not your name and you never acclaimed that fame
You sacrificed your life for our Nation and for my rights
Your race, religion, caste or creed they matter not to me
As you let go of everything for my liberty
While I was at home,
You travelled by air, land and sea
To make sure I am safe,
To protect and keep me free
Your sacrifice I commemorate, in my unpretentious way
And your memory, I salute and pray for on this Kargil Diwas Day
udChalo salutes heroes of the Indian Armed Forces for their bravery & courage during the Kargil conflict, 1999.
Jai Hind!
