25 years of Kargil war: In 1998, with the onset of winter, the Indian Army soldiers stationed in the high mountains of the Himalayas came down. The Pakistan Army had been waiting for this moment for a long time. As soon as the Indian Army left their posts in the high mountains and returned to the barracks, the Pakistani Army started infiltrating in the guise of infiltrators. Within a few months, the enemy had succeeded in reaching the peak of Tololing in Kargil.
The enemy had not only built their bunkers here, but they had also collected such a huge stock of weapons that they could fight the entire war. On 3 May 1999, while searching for his yak, a soldier named Tashi Namgyal reached the high hills under the Batalik sector of Kargil, where he saw some terrorists equipped with ultra-modern weapons. As soon as he saw the terrorists, Tashi quietly returned and informed this to an Indian Army soldier he met on the way.
The contingent headed by Captain Saurabh Kalia
At the same time, six days after this incident, i.e. on 9 May 1999, the Pakistani army started targeting the ammunition depot of the Indian Army. In this shelling on 9 May, the ammunition depot of the Indian Army located at Kargil headquarters was destroyed. The next day of this incident, i.e. on 10 May 1999, Pakistani intruders were seen in Kaksar, Dras and Mushkoh sectors. After which, on 14 May 1999, the Indian Army sent a contingent led by Captain Saurabh Kalia to search for the intruders.
Along with Captain Saurabh Kalia, Arjun Ram, Bhanwarlal Bagaria, Bhika Ram, Mool Ram and Naresh Singh were also included in this squad. Soon, Captain Saurabh Kalia along with his companions succeeded in reaching close to the enemy’s hideout. After reaching the spot, Captain Kalia came to know that there were not four-five terrorists who had infiltrated there, but hundreds of enemies equipped with all kinds of army weapons were present there. Meanwhile, the enemy who was already lying in ambush caught Captain Saurabh Kalia and his companions.
The enemy captured the area from Maskoh to Batalik
Later, Captain Saurabh Kalia and his companions were brutally murdered. Meanwhile, the command office became anxious as there was no news of Captain Saurabh Kalia. Indian Air Force reconnaissance aircraft were sent to search for Captain Saurabh and his companions. Along with this, some other patrolling parties were also sent to assess the exact position of the enemy. During this exercise, it was found that Pakistani intruders had entered about ten kilometers inside the Indian border and started establishing their foothold.
Apart from this, the intruders from Pakistan had spread over an area of about 120 km between Maskoh and Batalik sector. The enemy had built their bunkers at many places in this area. At the same time, the Indian Army got information through reconnaissance aircraft that the Pakistani intruders had also prepared their hideouts in the north direction of Kargil. The position of the Pakistani intruders sitting on the hills was such that they could keep a direct eye on the activities on National Highway 1 connecting Kashmir to Leh.
The big decision of air strike was taken on 24 May
By now the Indian Army had got a hint of Pakistan’s intentions. The Indian Army understood that the Pakistani Army had laid this entire plan to separate Leh-Ladakh from India. The Indian Army also knew that they had only two months to drive away the enemies sitting between Maskoh and Batalik sector. If the enemy was not finished off in two months, then first the rain and then snowfall would start. In such a situation, any action against the enemy would become impossible.
Considering all these possibilities, the Indian Army started an operation against the Pakistani intruders sitting between Maskoh and Batalik sector. As the Indian Army’s operation was progressing, the Indian Army was getting an idea of the strength of the Pakistani intruders sitting in the hills. After returning to India on 21 May, the then Indian Army Chief General VP Malik took stock of the entire situation and on 23 May himself reached Jammu and Kashmir. On 24 May, after meeting the then Air Force Chief AY Tapinis, he took the decision of air strike.
Squadron Leader A Ahuja sacrificed his life
On 25 May, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee informed the country about the intrusion in Kargil and on 26 May, the then Air Force Chief AY Tipnis issued orders to start air strikes. As soon as the order was received, Mig-21, Mig 27 and MI 17 helicopters were dispatched from Srinagar and Pathankot airbases. With the intention of teaching the enemy a lesson, Flight Lieutenant Nachiketa left for Dras in his Mig 27 aircraft on 27 May. During this operation, his aircraft came under the attack of the string missile of Pakistani intruders.
After which, Flight Lieutenant Nachiketa was forced to eject from his plane and his parachute took him across the Line of Control, where the enemy army took him hostage. After this incident, Squadron Leader A Ahuja was sent with a search plane Mig 21 to search for Flight Lieutenant Nachiketa. The enemy, already lying in ambush, targeted the plane of Squadron Leader A Ahuja. As soon as Squadron Leader A Ahuja ejected from his plane engulfed in fire, the enemy showered bullets on him.
And Pakistan got furious and started…
In this operation, Squadron Leader A Ahuja made the supreme sacrifice of his life for the country. After this, on 27 May, the Indian Air Force’s MI-17 aircraft became the target of a missile by Pakistani intruders. In this attack, four soldiers on board the aircraft were martyred. Despite these three major incidents, the Indian Air Force did not lose its courage and on 27 May itself, launched a massive attack on Tiger Hill and Point 4590. Also, the brave soldiers of the Indian Army started climbing the hills amidst heavy firing.
After the operation till now, the Indian Army had realized that the intruders sitting in the hills of Kargil were not terrorists but trained soldiers of the Pakistani Army. After which, the Indian Army has prepared its strategy afresh and started retaliatory action with full force. Seeing the courage of the Indian Army, the Pakistani Army got very nervous and in this nervousness, Pakistan started firing on National Highway 1 on June 1.
Indian army crushed the pride of Pakistan
The courage and war skills of the Indian Army started to demoralize the enemy. After a three-day long operation, the Indian Army once again hoisted the Indian flag by capturing two forward posts of Batalik sector on 9 June. On 13 June, the Indian Army also captured the peak of Tololing. On 29 June, the Indian Army once again captured Tiger Hill’s Point 5060 and 5100 by demolishing the enemy’s position. After this, on 2 July, the Indian Army started climbing Kargil from three sides.
Due to their bravery and war skills, the Indian Army soldiers hoisted the Indian tricolour on the entire Tiger Hill on 4 July. On 5 July, the Indian Army also succeeded in capturing Dras. On 7 July, the Indian Army once again hoisted the Indian tricolour on Batalik’s Jubbar Hill. Seeing the indomitable courage and bravery of the Indian Army, the enemy soldiers thought it best to turn their back and run away. On 14 July, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared the victory of the Indian Army in the Kargil War. After which, 26 July was declared Kargil Vijay Diwas as a symbol of the bravery of the Indian Army.
Tags: Indian Air Force, indian army, Indian Army Heroes, kargil day, kargil war, Know your Army
FIRST PUBLISHED : July 25, 2024, 10:23 IST