Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tribute to the Indian soldiers who fought in the 1999 Kargil War on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, honouring their courage and sacrifice in defending the nation.
In a post on X, PM Modi expressed gratitude to the armed forces, saying their bravery under challenging circumstances would remain a source of national pride.
“On Kargil Vijay Diwas, our nation expresses gratitude to the brave soldiers for their extraordinary courage and commitment towards securing India. Their valour in the face of the most formidable conditions will forever remain a source of national pride. Their unwavering patriotism and devotion to duty will continue to inspire generations,” he wrote.
Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed every year on July 26 to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War of 1999. The day honours the Indian Army personnel who fought in the high-altitude conflict and remembers the soldiers who lost their lives during the operation.
The Kargil conflict began in May 1999 after Pakistani troops and armed intruders occupied strategic positions on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
India launched Operation Vijay to reclaim the occupied positions, with crucial support from the Indian Air Force’s Operation Safed Sagar and the Indian Navy’s Operation Talwar. Despite fierce battles fought at extreme altitudes of over 16,000 feet, Indian forces successfully regained all captured posts while maintaining restraint by not crossing the Line of Control (LoC).
The operation was widely recognised for India’s military discipline, strategic precision and professionalism. The victory was officially declared on July 26, 1999, marking the end of the nearly two-month-long conflict.
The war also exposed gaps in intelligence gathering, surveillance, logistics and coordination among the three Services, lessons that would shape India’s defence policies for decades.
