26 July 1999
KARGIL WAR – A GLORIOUS VICTORY FOR INDIA
What Happened?
• July 26, 1999 will go down in the annals of Indian history as a day when the determined Indian forces achieved a glorious victory over the retreating Pakistani army in the Kargil war.
Background:
• It was on this day that the Indian victory over Pakistan was complete. True to its character despite having to pay a heavy price for fighting a war within its territory the Indian forces allowed the Pakistanis, who were pleading almost on their knees, to return across the Line of Control (LoC).
• The advancing Indian forces left no stone unturned to ensure that not even one Pakistani soldier remained on the Indian soil. With the backing of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Indian Army achieved a feat which would be hard for any of the armies around the world to match.
• It was also a milestone in the history of military aviation, as this was the first time that air power was employed with such effectiveness in such a hostile environment. The lessons from Kargil would also be applicable to all the world’s Air Forces.
Important from UPSC:
• Our policy of restraint and resolve during the Kargil crisis was appreciated by the international community also.
• The blatant misadventure of the Pakistani military establishment in Kargil failed miserably on the politico-diplomatic and military fronts. The Pakistani attempt in Kargil has had such far reaching effect that it has still not been able to emerge from the indignity it invited upon itself.
• Viewed against the background of the historic initiative taken by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to visit Lahore in February 1999 and the signing of the Lahore Declaration, which clearly reflected India’s willingness and determination to resolve its differences with Pakistan through a process of dialogue and confidence building, the Pakistani intrusion in Kargil was a betrayal of trust., Even while accepting India’s extended hand of friendship in Lahore, Pakistan was planning its clandestine, unprovoked full-scale intrusion across the LoC.
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