Colonel Shiv Choudhary
The thundering of guns and border skirmishes across the LOC that divides India and Pakistan (Pak) in Kashmir has never been a new thing. It was a bit surprise when the two sides exchanged fire in the first week of May 1999. It was more so because just three months earlier, the Prime Ministers (PM) of the two countries had embraced each other at the Wagah border to work towards peace. Also after PM of India was accorded a 21 Artillery gun salute on his visit to Pak, it was hoped that the guns of the two sides would fall silent permanently.
Sadly the much aroused hope was quickly shattered at the approach of summer when heavily armed Pakistan-backed intruders positioned themselves in at heights of 16,000-18,000 ft on the Indian side of the LOC along on approx. 80 km stretch north of Kargil. They began attacking the strategic highway linking Srinagar and Leh in the first week of May 1999. This led to the Indian army to quickly assess, plan and launch ‘Operation Vijay’ on 26 May involving movement of an entire army division to evict the intruders. Indian political leadership and army quickly became clear about the cunning aim of the Pak and the importance of far quickly evicting Pak forces from strategic area like Kargil at any cost.
The Indian army due to inherent tactical and operational disadvantage of moving uphill carrying all war like stores through the icy heights and inhospitable mountainous terrain which Pak army on the contrary enjoyed with good down observation and natural cover, did suffer heavy losses. Brave Indian army did not relent much against all such odds and continued on their mission. The ever-reliable Indian Air Force was called in. Though limited, yet the decisive intervention by the Indian Air Force changed the dynamic of the operation in a dramatic and unprecedented way on May 26. It started raining rockets and machine gun fire on the intruder positions occupied both on high reaches and behind high ridges out of reach of the army. Never in the history of the IAF, fighter planes have negotiated over 18,000 ft . In fact, the Air Force pilots had to follow a very critical and delicate task of not crossing LOC and yet destroy enemy on the heights and their supply lines behind.
By May end, a proper war like situation involving selectively targeted air strike was declared in Kargil. This was further backed by the Air Force with one of the tasks to keep the crucial Srinagar-Leh highway free from the Pakistan threat. On June 13, crucial taloling peak was captured, which proved a turning point. This was immediately followed by the capture of Point 5140. Simultaneously immense pressure was mounting on Pakistan Prime Minister Mr. Nawaz Sharif from all round the world to beat a hasty retreat over his foolish misadventure. On 4 Jul, Tiger Hill was recaptured form intruders. It is opined that Mr. Sharif and his over ambitious army chief Gen Musharraf by now had felt the pain and prangs of their ill-conceived decision and slipping operational plans. Meanwhile India captured all the key peaks by 13 Jul and Pak intruders began retreating from Kargil . A deadline of 16 Jul, was set for total withdrawal and operation Vijay was declared a success after a most difficult war of 50 days. Victory, over all conceivable odds shook the nation along with the indelible memories of valour by the brave young soldiers led by fearless military leadership.
There is a view that India trusted too much in Pak in the spirit of Lahore Declaration resulting into some adjustments on the border by India after the Lahore trip. It would not be totally out of place to say that while PaK PM was actually signing the Lahore Declaration in Feb, his army chief, Gen Pravez Musharraf was giving final shape to intended Kargil adventure and needed operational room,
There have been lot of views, controversies, case studies, brain storming and brain scratching both by the army and political leadership. This involved strategists, experts, intelligence, committees, inquiries, B of Os and security experts, to go into the genesis of the failure to foresee Pak’s massive planning, procurement, defence build-up, logistics movements, recce, aviation movements and concrete works which took over months. All corrective actions seemingly met the fate of posterity as usual with no accountability except the massive loss of brave hearts and their young leaders, injuries to far more and sad end to otherwise bright careers of military officers. Inter alia three principal agencies, RAW,IB and MI cannot just absolve themselves of a massive failure of this magnitude. Indeed an unpardonable lapse. Diplomatically Pak failed on all fronts. Militarily, Pakistan was forced to rethink its strategy at Kargil. In fact, Pak PM turned himself from a hero to zero by this disastrous action. India has since been taking many actions at varied levels through varied channels, be it G-8 to hit Pak’s badly low foreign reserves, IMF for monetary assistance/ loan, US aid for anti-terrorists operations or diplomatically to expose it as hub for harbouring terrorists. Indeed many things are happening during the last few years. The real test of India’s diplomatic skills lies in the distant future. Apparently, all is on the right course.
In the overall analysis as pointed by some experts earlier, Pak had failed in Kashmir valley, upstaged in the bus diplomacy and failed to paint the subcontinent as a nuclear flashpoint. Pak opted for a desperate gamble to bring Kashmir to the forefront of international consciousness again. In fact they factored in the fluctuating stability of Indian Parliament and resultant impending election. Pak woefully underestimated the collective Indian response. In fact, Pak was shell shocked after a few days of initial skirmishes followed by full scale offensive by India. Pak expected UN intervention on arrival of international emissary to broker peak thus achieving her aim of internationalizing Kashmir issue. The frustration and hopeless situation forced Pak PM to dash abroad in the thickest of war on Jun 28 for a supporting response. Indian plan to not to cross LOC was endorsed by the USA. Russia too backed India while France, China, Britain expressed their concern to settle Kargil issue bilaterally. It taught Pak once for all that India needs no intervention from any one. India knows only too well to deal with Pak bilaterally in the similar fashion.
India lost many of her brave warriors in battles conducted on some of the most inhospitable terrains in the world. The fighting man climbed and fought valiantly without rest and respite, the Bofor Howitzer, AA Gun and MBRL man hit with utter precision and shook reverse slope concrete positions, the logistician ensured no looking back by anyone , the army doctor showed his professional acumen and the Air Force regretted of getting only a limited chance to wreck hell on Pak and its army. The brave hearts preferred to die for a cause and become martyrs for the nation and wounded displayed resilience beyond imagination to continue their fight and will power to re-enter the battle field. Victory as thought, did finally come to us, sadly it came with bodies of our fallen heroes wrapped in the national flag.
On 26 Jul, India salutes its fallen heroes and stands by the brave army for their spectacular victory in Kargil. This day is observed not just in the Kargil-Dras sector but across all states of India. In New Delhi, PM pays homage to the war heroes at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate. This is the reason; the whole country feels emotional, one, united forgetting caste, region or religion on 26 Jul every year. Since we have no religion, caste, or quota in the Indian army, everyone fights for India and pays his/her homage to the martyrs as true Indian.
Jammu, which can proudly, boasts of its soldiers, innumerable martyrs and decorated heroes, marches ahead to pay their utmost respect to the martyrs of Kargil war. Like every year, this day is being celebrated at the sacred site, Balidan Stamb in Jammu too by everyone, residing in and around Jammu city with equal poignancy, spirit and enthusiasm. This sacred site will be decorated by a group of young volunteers on self-help basis with fixing of printed and handmade posters, banners and hoardings showing the martyrs, decorated soldiers standing amidst icy heights obtaining in the Kargil Batalik and other areas. Yes, there needs to have been some willing cooperation from certain section of society like petrol pumps, schools, colleges, shop keepers and other points often visited by common public to allow poster and banner posting for such a noble cause. Connected govt offices are also humbly urged to display slightly more empathy in according clearance for similar ceremonies at Balidan Stamb. It is everyone’s duty to participate and pay their rich homage to the departed souls “who preferred to die for a cause, than meekly surrendering to the dictates of enemy”. Those “Who preferred to die for something, than living for nothing”. We must show solidarity with the families of brave departed souls. Long live the Martyrs who laid down their lives fighting against all odds in “Operation Vijay”
(shivchoudhary2@gmail.com
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