INTRODUCTION
India and Pakistan witnessed one of the most tragic transfers of population in the year 1947. The dispute between these the two nations was born out of the territorial divide that took place during Partition. Since then, the illegal occupation of Indian territory by Pakistan has seen more than seven decades of bloodshed. The history of violence and political unrest in the state of Jammu and Kashmir has claimed a number of lives. Since Independence, Indian and Pakistan have fought four wars, 1947-48, 1965, 1971 and 1999 and in addition, Pakistan has waged a proxy war in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Kargil War of 1999 came as a betrayal by Pakistan after nearly a decade of peace and cordiality. And in an attempt to occupy Kashmir by strength, armed personnel of Pakistan’s army infiltrated the Line of Control (LoC) in May 1999. The first information of the intrusion was given by a local shepherd in the Kargil Sector on 03 May 1999. It was a breach of the Tashkent Agreement signed by India and Pakistan in 1966. Despite India’s belief in a peaceful resolution of conflict, India had to choose the route of fighting a full-fledged war in 1999. To protect the territorial integrity of India, Indian Army soon launched Operation Vijay in response to enemy aggression.
The War lasted for a span of approximately two months in which the Tri-Services emerged victorious on 26 July 1999. But, as it is often said that the ‘Wars come at a cost,’ the Kargil War didn’t just come as an economic drain to India, it also cost us a number of lives of our gallant Indian soldiers. This was the war in which India lost the largest number of its young commanding officers. The battles fought during the Kargil war are examples of High-Altitude warfare in which Indian soldiers set a new benchmark as regards valor and sacrifice. It has been twenty-five years since the war and over the years, sense of both pride and pain has intertwined itself beautifully to remember Kargil War as a victory that defied all odds.
OPERATIONS IN BATALIK SUB- SECTOR
In the Batalik Sub-Sector, the LoC cuts across the Indus River between Batalik and Marol. The soldiers of Pakistan’s Northern Light Infantry (NLI) had penetrated around 8 to 10 Kms from the LoC to an unheld area in the East of Batalik and West of the Chorbat La. Headquarters of 70 Infantry Brigade under Brigadier Devinder Singh was inducted into the Kargil Sector on 08 May 1999 to take charge of Batalik Sub-Sector and ensure that the enemy did not extend the intrusion to dominate the Leh– Batalik–Kargil Road. Four ridgelines namely Jubar, Kukarthang, Khalubar and Point 5203–Churubar Po (Southwards along Chorbat La watershed), varying in heights from 15,000 feet to 16,800 feet were occupied by Pakistani soldiers. The slopes were extremely steep with sharp spined and jagged peaks.
On 09 May, 12 JAK LI was inducted into the Sector to recapture Point 5203. On 20 June, 12 JAK LI, along with a Company of 5 PARA and two Companies of Ladakh Scouts recaptured Point 5203. Following the recapture of Point 5203 in the Batalik Sector, the next objective was Khalubar. 1/11 GORKHA RIFLES was deployed to recapture Khalubar Top on 02 July 1999. With just a handful of soldiers 1/11 GORKHA RIFLES captured the Khalubar Top.
THE BATTLE TO SECURE KHALUBAR TOP
Among the battles which were fought in Batalik Sector during Op Vijay,the recapture of Khalubar Top remains one of the key victories in the Sub-Sector. The Kalubhar Ridgeline dominates the Batalik Area. The Jubar Complex is to its left and Point 5203 to its right in the Chorbat La Area, close to the LOC. The highest feature is Point 5287 (approximately 16,000 feet), with Point 4812 in its vicinity towards the South. The enemy had occupied Kalubhar Ridgeline and it was important to evict the enemy to reclaim the lost territory. This ridgeline dominated the area up to Junk Lungpa in the East, Gragrio Nala in the West, the Kukarthang feature to its South West and Muntho Dhalo, the administrative base of the enemy, to its North West. The enemy’s induction route and supply lines passed through MunthoDhalo Hence, Khalubar was the hub of the enemy defences in the Batalik Sector. Accordingly, HQ 70 Infantry Brigade made plans for its early capture by launching simultaneous attacks from Junk Lungpa at several positions on this long ridgeline. In the north, Ladakh Scouts under Lieutenant Colonel Chandiok, Wing Commander, Indus Wing, were tasked to capture Point 5000, Stangba and Padma Go. In the centre, 22 GRENADIERS was given the task of establishing lodgements astride Point 5287, to be subsequently enlarged by 1/11 GORKHA RIFLES. The idea was to capture Area Bumps in the West with the intention to draw enemy reserves, cut off their maintenance routes and distracting enemy attention from the main attack on the Khalubar.
The Khalubar ridgeline was divided into a number of smaller targets which were engaged in rotation by the entire might of the artillery in the Batalik Sub-Sector over a number of days. The initial attacks on Khalubar were launched by 22 GRENADIERS on the night of 30 June-01 July 1999. However, after being beaten by the enemy counter attack, the of capturing the Khalubar Ridgeline was delegated to 1/11 GORKHA RIFLES. 1/11 GORKHA RIFLES, the reserve Battalion commanded by Colonel Lalit Rai, had just had a major success having completed a professionally rewarding field tenure, including astint in Kash mir Valley (where Lieutenant Puneet Nath Datt had been posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra and an eventful tenure at Siachen Glacier, 1/11 GORKHA RIFLES was in the process of moving from Ladakh to a peace station when the call came for duty in Operation Vijay. The Gorkhas were inducted into the Batalik Sub-Sector on 09 May 1999 and took part in the initial operations of 70 Infantry Brigade to contain the Pakistani intruders by securing the Yaldor axis. The Battalion had been steadily building up pressure on the enemy and causing attrition as a prelude to launching deliberate attacks to evict the intruders from Kukarthang.
Through the months of May and June, the Battalion participated in operations aimed at the degradation of the enemy’s defences at Jubar and Churubar Sispo and some notable successes had been achieved. 1/11 GORKHA RIFLES less two Companies moved forward from their firm base at Yaldor to a forward assembly area at the foot of Point 4812 during the day on 02 July 1999. On the night 02-03 July 1999, the Gorkhas began the gruelling seven hour climb up the precipitous slopes of the Khalubar mountain. ‘B’ Company under Major C Correya and ‘C’ Company under Major Ajai Tomar defied the enemy’s murderous fire and trudged uphill. The Commanding Officer’s party made its own way forward. However, the troops of Pakistan’s 8 Northern Light Infantry were well-entrenched and fought back with determination. It became clear to the Gorkhas that they would have to physically fight the enemy and evict him bunker by bunker. It was in this situation that some of the most heroic deeds of valour took place on Khalubar.
Captain Manoj Pandey’s Platoon came up against stiff resistance from Area Bunkers. As the Platoon approached its final objective after an arduous climb lasting several hours, it came under heavy and intense enemy fire from the surrounding heights. Captain Manoj’s Platoon was nominated by the CO to clear the interfering enemy positions, so as to ensure that success could be achieved before daybreak. This young Captain quickly moved his platoon to an advantageous position under intense enemy fire and sent one section to clear Pakistani bunkers from the right, while he himself proceeded to clear four other enemy bunkers which were interfering with the attack from the left. Fearlessly charging up to the first bunker, braving a hail of bullets, he killed two enemy soldiers and went on to assault the second. He destroyed it by killing two more enemy personnel. While clearing the third bunker, Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey was injured on the shoulder and legs by enemy fire. Undaunted and without caring for his grievous injury, this spirited young officer personally led the assault on the fourth bunker, urging his men to keep fighting. He succeeded in destroying it with a grenade but even as he hurled a grenade inside, he sustained a Medium Machine Gun burst on his forehead from a point blank range, to which he succumbed.
There is no doubt that the troops involved in these operations had displayed unparalleled dedication, courage and commitment in the highest traditions of the Indian Army and their achievement will remain firmly entrenched in India’s military history.
