KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 - Important Days)

Context: The Vice-President and Chairman, Rajya Sabha paid tribute to the supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers on the occasion of 24th Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas in the Upper House.

Kargil Vijay Diwas

• It is celebrated on July 26 every year. 
• The day commemorates the victory of the Indian armed forces in the Kargil War fought against Pakistan.
• The day is observed to pay tribute and honour the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers in the war of 1999.
• The year 2023 marks the 24th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
• It was fought between India and Pakistan at the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The Kargil War was an unexpected intrusion by Pakistani forces into Indian territory.
• They occupied key vantage points in the Kargil region, leading to intense military engagements.
• The Indian Army fought bravely and recaptured the famous 'Tiger Hill' and other important posts around under 'Operation Vijay' by evicting the Pakistani troops in the 1999 Kargil War.
• It was fought at extreme altitudes, with some of the battlegrounds reaching heights of over 18,000 feet.
• It lasted for approximately three months.
• The Indian Army employed heavy artillery, air power as well as major infantry operations during the Kargil War.
• In a first, the Indian side used the Bofors FH-77B howitzers to shoot down enemy positions nested at top of the mountains. 
• Israel provided their Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to India during the conflict.
• It was the first ever war to be broadcasted live on TV channels in India. 
• The war came to an end on July 26, 1999, when India successfully pushed back the Pakistani forces from the occupied positions.
• As per official figures, around 500 Indian soldiers laid down their lives while at least 1,000 Pakistani troops were also killed.
• It was the last war that happened between India and Pakistan.