On July 26, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Drass in the Kargil district of Ladakh for the 24th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
The day is marked every year to pay homage to the fallen soldiers in the 1999 Kargil conflict with Pakistan. The Raksha Mantri laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial here in the memory of the fallen bravehearts in the icy heights of Kargil.
He was chief guest at the sombre commemoration event.
Army Chief General Manoj Pande, too, paid floral tributes to the fallen jawans at the Kargil War Memorial while Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar also laid a wreath in memory of the bravehearts.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, also laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial in tribute to the fallen soldiers in the Kargil conflict.
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Earlier, on July 25, the Army held a press briefing on the commemoration event at Lamochen, Drass. The briefing commenced with an audio-visual narration of the battles showcasing the valour and sacrifice of the jawans in the Kargil conflict as it unfolded in 1999.
The conflict, as has been widely documented, pitted the Indian Army jawans against the Pakistani intruders in the rugged and unforgiving heights of Kargil.
In the conflict, which lasted over two months, the Army managed to push back the Pakistani intruders, who had been occupying certain vantage points in Kargil, raising the Tricolour on the territory wrested from the enemy.
The conflict played out in the frontlines in the Dras, Kargil and Batalik sectors of Kargil district.
The sombre commemoration of the jawans, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the conflict, took place in the scenic backdrop of the mountains where they had engaged the Pakistani intruders in fierce battles.
The sombre notes from the military band added to the sombre mood of the soldiers, who gathered for the commemoration of Kargil Vijay Divas.
The event was graced by the presence of the war heroes and Veer Naris, Veer Matas and relatives of the soldiers, who laid down their lives on the line on duty during the conflict.
The event was graced by the presence of the war heroes and Veer Naris, Veer Matas and relatives of the soldiers, who laid down their lives on the line on duty during the conflict.
Background
The Kargil War, fought between India and Pakistan in 1999, stands as a testament to the valor, determination, and resilience of the Indian Armed Forces. Lasting for over two months, the conflict saw Indian soldiers’ brave treacherous terrain and harsh weather conditions to defend their nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. On this day we commemorate India’s historic victory in the Kargil War and highlights the unwavering courage of its armed forces.
The Kargil War erupted in May 1999 when the Indian intelligence agencies discovered that Pakistani army and terrorists had infiltrated in the Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir. This incursion posed a severe threat to India’s strategic interests, as the enemy forces occupied vantage points along the Line of Control (LoC), allowing them to target vital supply routes and communications.
The Kargil War stands as a poignant chapter in Indian history, forever etched in the collective memory of the nation. It pays tribute to the bravery and courage of the Kargil War Heroes who spearheaded Operation Vijay, culminating in the triumph of the Indian Armed Forces.
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