Nation to observe Kargil Vijay Diwas tomorrow

The nation will observe Kargil Vijay Diwas tomorrow. The day is observed to mark the success of Operation Vijay, which was launched to flush out Pakistani intruders from Indian Territory during the Kargil war in 1999.

During Operation Vijay, about 200, 000 troops mobilised by India to recapture Indian posts in Kargil which was occupied by Pakistani infiltrators. The mission was successfully concluded on 26 July 1999.

The main event would be organised in Kargil-Dras sector in Jammu and Kashmir and New Delhi to commemorate the sacrifices made by the soldiers. Events would also be organised across the country to mark the occasion. Traditionally the Prime Minister pays his respect at the Amar Jyoti Jawan memorial at the India Gate in New Delhi.

Preparations are underway in Jammu amid tight security to observe the event following recent flaring of tension between locals and security forces after the killing of Hizb militant Burhan Wani.

Although not a war, the conflict had erupted in Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LoC) following intrusion of Pakistani soldiers into Indian Territory. The conflict lasted for three months (May-July 1999) and remains one of the recent examples of high altitude conflict.

The three-month conflict killed more than 500 people including young army officials, according to one estimate.