Despite numerous arguments, India and Pakistan fought 3 wars in a span of 5 decades to maintain peace along with L.O.C (Line of Control). With heavy bloodshed from both the sides, Kargil war wasn’t just a conflict of ideology that led to extensive human loss. It also brought out the most inhuman face of war.
On 26th July 2016, we celebrate the 17th anniversary of the Kargil War and here are some facts every Indian should know about Kargil.
1. The start of Kargil War
The start of Kargil War
War was declared in 1999, soon after the infiltration of Pakistani troops and Kashmiri militants into Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir and along the Line of Control (LOC).
2. The hostile condition
The hostile condition
The hostile topography in Kargil were quite similar to Sino-Indian Border Conflict of 1962. Along with this, the Nuke test of May 1998 conducted between India and Pakistan had already increased tension along the LoC.
3. Mastermind
Mastermind
Then Army Chief of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf is said to be the mastermind behind the attack. It was said that Pervez smartly carried out the whole plan without the knowledge of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Pervez executed the whole plan while on the other hand, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had responded to Nawaz’s invitation to Lahore where both of them signed the Lahore declaration.
4. Entry of Indian Army
Entry of Indian Army
It was on May 3, 1999 when some local shepherds noticed some high-low activities taking place in the mountains of Kargil and the Indian Army was soon informed about the same. It was further reported that there were heavily armed people posts and occupying bunkers thereby. Soon after this, Pakistan tried to gain control over Kashmir by raising the issue with UN, which failed completely due to the massive number of Indian residents there.
5. The man behind the Indian troop
The man behind the Indian troop
Kargil was fought in extremely low temperatures. Both sides possessing nuclear weapons made this war even more dangerous and critical. This battle took place at 18,000 feet high altitudes, in the rocky terrain and the Indian Army Chief at that time was Ved Prakash Malik.
6. Status of the Indian Army
Status of Indian army
India had positioned five infantry divisions, five independent brigades and 44 battalions of paramilitary troops in Kashmir and further deployed 60 frontline aircrafts. The Pakistan Army and Taliban fighters used Stinger SAMs (Surface-to-Air missiles) to hit Indian Aircrafts flying over the high altitude warfare zone (in mountainous terrain).
7. Criticism faced by Pakistan
Criticism faced by Pakistan
Pakistan’s infiltration of India was criticized by many countries, thus leading to loss of credibility in the eye of India and other countries. This criticism attracted the United States’ intervention into the crisis and India gained the confidence of the USA.
8. Nawaj Sharif’s take on Kargil war
Nawaj Sharif’s take on Kargil war
On September 2007, Nawaz Sharif confessed to having ‘let down’ his then counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee and regretted not taking any action against Musharraf . However, recalling the conflict 16 years later, former military chief Pervez Musharraf said that it would be hard for India to ever forget those times when Pakistani troops “grabbed India by the throat”.
9. What Musharraf said
What Musharraf said
The Geo News quoted Musharraf saying, “There was a second line of force, too, which caught India by the throat and that was later given the status of an army”, while addressing the All India-Pakistan Muslim League.
10. The human loss
The human loss
524 Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives during the conflict and 13,363 got critically injured. While 696 Pak Soldiers lost their lives along with 40 civilian lives on the Pakistani side of LOC. In the final assault at Tiger Hill (Point 5140), five Indian soldiers and 10 Pakistani soldiers lost their lives. Apart from the soldiers, Captain Vikram Batra also lost his life while taking the place of an injured officer at 4875.
11. Barkha Dutt made her name with the war
Barkha Dutt made her name with the war
Barkha Dutt was awarded the Padma Shri for her services on the line of duty at the Kargil War. This brave journalist covered the entire Kargil war and also interviewed the brave Shershah- ‘Vikram Batra’ of 17 JAK rifles exclusively.
Author: Rima Chowdhury
