The Ladakh and Kargil Sectors have gone through a tumultuous period since independence and this region has been at the forefront of significant battles in all the wars India has fought. 3 Infantry Division which came into existence during the 1962 War has faced the twin challenges of defending the border both with China and Pakistan. Twenty five years ago , In 1999 this remote area, isolated by high mountains with hostile climatic conditions was where a military ingress by Pakistan took place across the Line of Control.
The intelligence failure was compounded by a sense of disbelief in the highest echelons that Pakistan had signed the recent Lahore Declaration while its troops had secretly crossed into vacant Indian territory in difficult high altitude mountainous areas with an aggressive intent.
The eviction of the intruders was then carried out as a result of near suicidal frontal infantry attacks due to the restraints imposed by not allowing the LoC to be crossed as the aim was to prevent a wider escalation. Indian soldiers had to attack uphill over rugged, open terrain in the face of aimed fire after long arduous marches in rarefied high-altitude atmosphere. Though these assaults resulted in high casualties as troops were not permitted to infiltrate behind enemy positions and fighter aircraft were not allowed to engage hostile gun positions, troop concentrations and administrative dumps behind the LoC.
However, by the first week of July 1999, the Indian Tricolour was hoisted on Tiger Hill by brave soldiers of the Indian Army by the third week of July was flying across all the areas where the intrusions had taken place. It was a heroic fightback against daunting odds. Accounts of their unflinching devotion to duty ,relentless determination and selfless sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Armed Forces have left a legacy and continue to inspire future generations. The severity of our response surprised both Pakistan and the world.
To quote General VP Malik; “The War in Kargil will go down in the history of India as a saga of unmatched bravery, grit and determination displayed on the battlefield by the Indian Army; a symbol of great pride and inspiration.”
The Kargil conflict remains a watershed in India’s security architecture in many ways including the role of the media which literally brought the conflict into living rooms across the country. Apart from that this also marked a turning point in Indo-US relations as President Clinton forced the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to pull back Pakistani troops from the areas of ingress.
As per Lieutenant General Satish Nambiar; ’this was a conflict in which the Indian Armed Forces particularly the young officers and soldiers of the Infantry and Special Forces rendered an absolutely outstanding display of indomitable spirit, courage and endurance’.
What stood out at the end of the conflict was the spirit and Regimentation of the Indian soldier and the fact that professionally our well-trained troops had the ability to surmount near impossible odds. While Indian Armed Forces emerged stronger from the conflict compelling the Pakistan political and military leadership to withdraw and sue for peace there was an important lesson to be learnt regarding trusting the Pakistani leadership.
To quote Prime Minister Vajpayee, Kargil;” sent the unequivocal message to our adversaries that any military threat to our country will be dealt with swiftly, strongly and effectively. The extraordinary speed with which victory was achieved demonstrated the coordination, skill, training and professionalism of our Armed Forces’. There remains no doubt that we can safeguard peace only when we have the strength to make aggression costly and futile.
