20 years of Kargil: Airbase turned into war theatre, milestones re-enacted
New Delhi, June 24: Commemorating 20 years of the Kargil War, the IAF Monday turned the Gwalior air base virtually into a conflict theatre, with dramatic reenactment of some of the milestones of the operation in 1999.
In a symbolic 'recreation' of the Tiger Hill attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Drass-Kargil area, the air force used the Mirage 2000 aircraft and explosives were blown up on a 'model hill' to recreate the crucial events of the war.
The chief guest for the event is Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa.
The IAF has planned several activities at the air base to commemorate the 20 years of the war and the symbolic 'recreation' of the Tiger Hill attack was one of them.
Five
Mirage
2000,
two
MiG
21s
and
one
Sukoi
30
MKI
were
on
static
display
at
the
base.
One
of
the
Mirage
2000s
showcased
the
Spice
bomb
carrier.
The
bomb
was
used
in
the
Balakot
airstrike
in
February.
"The Kargil conflict offers an exemplary experience in the use of air power in warfare in high mountains conditions and is key to full understanding of India's emerging posture," a senior IAF official said.
Several gallantry award winners, both serving and retired, who had participated in 'Operation Vijay', are attending the event.
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The Indian armed forces displayed exceptional valour to successfully dislodged the enemy from the strategic hill in the Drass-Kargil area, an official said.
The Mirage-2000 aircraft played a crucial role in the battles fought during the war and also hit enemy targets bunkered in at the Tiger Hill.
During the war, the IAF had conducted operation Safed Sagar as a part of operation Vijay of the army.
A number of events has been planned by the army in Delhi and Dras in Jammu and Kashmir next month to mark the 20th anniversary of the 'Kargil Vijay Diwas', officials had earlier said.
The
anniversary
celebrations
for
this
year
will
be
spread
over
three
days
from
July
25-27.
"However,
as
part
of
the
build
up
to
the
main
event,
numerous
activities
have
been
planned
to
be
organised
all
over
the
country
from
the
first
week
of
July," an
official
said.
The celebrations in the national capital will begin on July 14 with the illumination of a 'Victory Flame' from the National War Memorial in Delhi, which would traverse through 11 towns and cities to finally culminate at Dras where it will be merged with the eternal flame at the 'Kargil War Memorial', he said.
The objective of these celebrations is to evoke feeling of patriotism through nationwide campaigns especially amongst youth and to pay homage to the valiant soldiers.
"The Kargil War will always be remembered for its strategic and tactical surprises, the self-imposed national strategy of restraint in keeping the war limited to Kargil-Siachen sectors, and the swiftly executed tri-services military strategy and plans," the Army had said.