Operation Vijay

Operation Vijay was the codename for the Indian Army's military campaign launched in May 1999 to evict Pakistani Army regulars and armed infiltrators who had illegally occupied strategic heights on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kargil sector of Ladakh. The operation was initiated after large-scale intrusions by Pakistani forces under Operation Badr were detected in the Drass, Kargil, Batalik, Mushkoh and Turtuk sectors. The Indian Army launched coordinated offensive operations to recapture every occupied peak despite extremely difficult terrain, freezing temperatures and enemy positions located at altitudes exceeding 16,000 feet. The Indian Air Force supported the campaign through Operation Safed Sagar, while the Indian Navy launched Operation Talwar to exert strategic pressure on Pakistan in the Arabian Sea. Major battles were fought at Tololing, Point 5140, Tiger Hill, Point 4875, Khalubar, Three Pimples and several other strategically important heights. The conflict witnessed extraordinary acts of courage by Indian soldiers including Captain Vikram Batra, Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, Major Rajesh Singh Adhikari, Captain Anuj Nayyar, Major Padmapani Acharya, Captain Vijayant Thapar, Lieutenant Keishing Clifford Nongrum and many others. After nearly three months of intense fighting, Indian forces successfully recaptured all major occupied positions. Under growing military pressure and international diplomatic intervention, Pakistan withdrew its remaining forces from the Indian side of the Line of Control. On 26 July 1999, India declared Operation Vijay successful. The victory is commemorated every year as Kargil Vijay Diwas, honouring the courage, sacrifice and determination of the Indian Armed Forces.