Kargil Vijay Diwas - All you should know

India observes the Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26 in honour of the men who lost their lives in the war.

During the first week of May 1999, India received reports of infiltrators from across the border coming into Kargil occupying it. The security forces initially thought they were Mujahideen, but they soon realized that it was the Pakistani army that had occupied some of the posts. In reaction to the infiltration, India launched Operation Vijay to drive the Pakistani troops out of Kargil.

Kargil conflict explained in 10 points:

• Kargil war was tough in 1999 between India and Pakistan in Kargil, Ladkah, intially Baltistan district, separated by the LOC after the first Kashmir war.
• This was the first war after the war in 1971, which led to the formation of Bangladesh.
• Atal Bihar Vajpayee was the Prime Minister at that time.
• Operation Vijay was launched to clear the Kargil sector of infiltration by Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri terrorists on the Indian side of the LoC
• The war was fought in May-July 1999 in Kargil and also along the LoC.
• Safed Sagar, the IAF's operation was a major one. Air power at at the height of 32,000 feet was used for the first time to identify Pakistan troops and infiltrators.
• Operation Vijay was declared successful on July 28, 19 years back. Vajpayee declared the operation as successful on July 14, but it was officially declared closed on July 26 1999.
• India list more than 500 of its men. Pakistan on the other hand lose 3,000 of their men including terrorists.
• The Kargil war was a rare instance of a war being fought by two nuclear states.
• Kargil was the toughest war due to a high-altitude warfare. Such wars are considered most dangerous due to rough terrain and natural habitat.