20th ANNIVERSARY OF KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS

On the 20th anniversary of India’s victory in the Kargil war, Army chief General Bipin Rawat warned Pakistan of a “bloodier nose” if it chooses to go into another war with India while advising the neighbouring country of not repeating “misadventures”.

• The year 2019, marks the 20th anniversary of victory in ‘Operation VIJAY’ popularly known as the ‘Kargil War’. 
• The Kargil War will always be remembered for its strategic and tactical surprises, the self-imposed national strategy of restraint in keeping the war limited to Kargil – Siachen Sectors and swiftly executed tri-services military strategy and plans.
• The ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ celebrations for the year 2019 are being celebrated with the theme ‘Remember, Rejoice and Renew’.
• The objective of these celebrations is to evoke feeling of nationalism and patriotism through nationwide campaigns especially amongst youth and to pay homage to the valiant soldiers.

Image Credits: http://bit.ly/2YmYeeH

Background: 

• On May 3, 1999 some shepherds alerted the nearest military post about Pakistani infiltrators on Kargil and neighbouring heights building bunkers for themselves, the country knew nothing about this grave happening.
• The invaders were not just “mujahideen”, but also soldiers of Pakistan’s Northern Light Infantry. Soon, it became known that this misadventure was the brainchild and handiwork of the then army chief and later military dictator of Pakistan, General Prevez Musharraf.
• Pakistani men had captured 5,000 square kilometres of territory on the Indian side of the Line of Control in Kargil and adjoining areas. Had Pakistan been able to consolidate its control of that region, it could have denied us the use of the all-weather road between Srinagar and Leh, thus separating the Kashmir Valley from Ladakh.
• It was launched with the sole objective of wresting Kashmir from India by armed force. It was also the first and, so far, the only limited and conventional war between two countries possessing nuclear weapons. That was a factor of prime importance.

Source: Times of India