On July 26, India celebrates the Silver Jubilee of Kargil Vijay Diwas, a significant milestone commemorating the unwavering bravery of soldiers who triumphed against all odds. Lt. General Satish Dua (Retd.) shares his thoughts in this article.
New Delhi: Twenty-five years ago, in 1999, India achieved victory over Pakistan in Kargil after the Indian Army evicted the Pakistan Army personnel who had sneaked in and occupied mountain peaks on the Indian territory.
The Kargil Vijay Diwas, celebrated on July 26, hails the bravery of the Indian soldiers and young leaders who prevailed against all odds and at a great cost.
A total of 527 officers and men, in a display of unparalleled courage, laid down their lives to protect the territorial integrity of our country in Kargil. Their sacrifice, the ultimate form of bravery, made the nation proud. We salute them.
While technically not a war, the Kargil conflict was a monumental event that showcased the unparalleled bravery of our soldiers and young leaders. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it was not a war in the traditional sense, as a national emergency was not declared, and the conflict was confined to the Kargil district.
Kargil is a district in Ladakh with remarkable scenic beauty. It was part of the erstwhile J&K state before becoming part of the Union Territory of Ladakh after the bifurcation of J&K into two UTs in 2019.
Kargil is strategically significant as the Line of Control between India and Pakistan. It traverses its rugged and mountainous terrain. The altitude of these snow-covered peaks, ranging from 11,000 to over 18,000 feet, adds to its strategic value.
Why did Pakistan try to occupy the inhospitable snow-covered mountain peaks in Kargil?
First, we must understand what happened at the Siachen glacier west of Kargil over a decade earlier. In the 1980s, the Indian and Pakistani armies confronted each other at the Siachen glacier, the highest battleground on earth. This conflict set the stage for the Kargil conflict and significantly influenced the strategies and tactics employed by both sides.
It was my battalion that executed the highest attack in the world and captured the Pakistan Quaid post at 21,153 feet. It was later renamed Bana Top in honour of Honorary Capt. Bana Singh, PVC, whose section finally assaulted the post.
Stung by this loss, the Special Services Group of Pakistan launched a riposte three months later, which was successfully beaten back. Their commander, Brig Parvez Musharraf, launched it.
Smarting from that defeat, he planned Kargil intrusions when he became the Army Chief, initially without political consent. He hoped to cut off the road leading from Srinagar to Leh and Siachen by occupying these mountain peaks.
In 1999, Pakistan sent soldiers across the LoC to Kargil, in areas lightly held by both sides during winters. This was happening as PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee travelled to Lahore on a bus to take the peace process forward — it was deception at the national level. We were stabbed in the back.
As a conflict, it was rare, if not unique, that it was not allowed to escalate into a full-blown war due to the responsible behaviour on India’s part and the unparalleled bravery displayed by its soldiers.
Not only was the conflict limited to LoC but it was also localised to Kargil.
How was that achieved?
India’s responsible behaviour, refraining from crossing the LoC, ensured the conflict did not escalate further. This strategic decision, although challenging, was a testament to our nation’s maturity and commitment to peace.
The Indian Air Force also operated with their hands tied behind their backs, as the aircraft were also not allowed to cross the LoC. Our fighter aircraft could have caused heavy damage to the enemy’s operational and logistic infrastructure from across the LoC.
Why was it important to retain the sanctity of the LoC after Pakistan had violated it themselves?
It was perhaps the only time when two nuclear nations had gone to war, and the world was watching with bated breath.
The US was particularly anxious that the conflict should not spiral out of control as it made conciliation efforts with the leadership from both countries.
However, this came at a cost.
The soldiers had to launch frontal attacks to evict the enemy from the mountain peaks, and all assaults were uphill, making our task much more difficult and risky. Yet, it did not deter the soldiers and the young leaders, who proudly went into the attack with a fanatic gleam in their eyes and no fear in their minds. Their bravery and determination make us proud as Indians and inspire the youth of our nation.
Not only did the youth contribute, but the whole nation was supporting the military efforts.
Bravery on the frontline was matched by the ‘Josh’ of the nation. As a Commanding Officer, I received a telegram from an officer of my unit, who had been boarded out on medical grounds, saying he wanted to rejoin the Battalion to fight the enemy during the war.
While there is no provision for such participation, it does not take anything away from his ‘Josh’ and ‘Jazba’, his patriotism, bravery, and enthusiasm to participate in combat at grave risk to his life. Such instances abound in our country and make us proud as Indians. The youth always make us proud.
It was also India’s first televised war. On the one hand, the country watched the progress of operations in real time. On the other, it showed the human side of war—the supreme sacrifices made by the officers and soldiers, the heartbreaking sight of their families, and the outpouring of nationalistic sentiment at the funerals. The conflict left a deep emotional scar on the families of the soldiers, who had to bear the loss of their loved ones for the nation.
When Capt. Vikram Batra returned victorious after recapturing a mountain peak; he famously told (journalist) Barkha Dutt, “Yeh Dil Maange More…”
He fired up the imagination of the youth and, indeed, the whole nation. And he laid down his life in the next attack leading from the front. He was only 24.
So were many others—they were all in their early twenties. They led seasoned soldiers who were 10, some even 20 years older than them. The nation’s mood could only be experienced by those who lived in it at that time.
The Kargil conflict also ushered in military reforms. After it was over, the Kargil Review Committee under K. Subrahmanyam recommended massive changes to structures and processes.
The L.K. Advani-led Group of Ministers and the Arun Singh Task Force discussed details, and Tri-Services structures like HQ Integrated Defence Staff, Andaman & Nicobar Command, and Strategic Forces were raised.
However, the government stopped short of appointing a CDS, appointed in 2020.
The silver jubilee of Kargil Vijay Diwas not only gives us a justified opportunity to celebrate and honour India’s Bravehearts but also gives us a responsibility to reflect on the lessons learnt and apply them in today’s context.
While the Kargil conflict was the first televised war in India, today’s battles will be fought across a multi-domain spectrum, and we need to develop capabilities accordingly.
It also taught us a valuable lesson about the need to be self-reliant on weapons, ammunition, and other war-like supplies. In this regard, a great push is being given to ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence.
As we have just seen, the Kargil conflict was unique in many ways. However, one thing that stands out is the bravery of the soldiers and the young leaders who led from the front by personal example.
They were all drawn from the youth of India, both rural and urban areas.
I would like to sign off with a message for the youth—you don’t have to join the army to serve the country. India’s growth story needs all the skills of the youth. You can also serve the nation by doing what you do to the best of your abilities. And if you want to show respect to a soldier, be a good citizen—a citizen worth dying for.
Jai Hind!
(Lt General Satish Dua (Retd) is a former Corps Commander in Kashmir who retired as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff. The views expressed are personal.)
–IANS
