'Operation Vijay' jubilee kicked off in Kargil

The 13th anniversary of “Operation Vijay Diwas” kicked off on Wednesday at Drass in Ladakh to commemorate the triumph of the Indian Army during the 1999 Kargil war and to pay homage to soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the battle.

The event is celebrated every year as an effort to express nation’s gratitude to the martyrs and honour the families of those who suffered irreparable loss while serving the nation.

According to a defence communiqué, the celebrations were unfurled at Dras Garrison, with the hosting of national flag at the Kargil war memorial. “The officers and men who fought the war and engraved their contribution in history, became nostalgic and recounted their experiences. This was followed up by a motor-cycle display at old Drass,” the statement
said.

The Kargil War was a misadventure of the Pakistan Army, master-minded and executed by former Pakistan Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf. Pakistan Army, under General Musharraf, despite some initial gains, ultimately suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Indian Army.

With the possibility of India escalating the battle from a “limited war” in Kargil and extending it to Pakistan, General Musharraf seemingly goaded the hapless Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to rush to Washington and enlist United States’ aid to pressure India for a three-day ceasefire to enable Pakistani troops to withdraw to their side of the LoC.