As India marks ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ on July 26 each year, commemorating the brave troops who sacrificed their lives during the Kargil War, we reflect on the profound impact of this conflict, which took place from May to July 1999 in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kargil district. This year, India observes the 25th anniversary of that pivotal moment in history.
“The idea that the Indian Navy can be highly effective as a game-changing flanking force is one which has gained credence since the Navy’s ‘silent’ Kargil victory,” observes security analyst Iskandar Rehman in the chapter “India’s Aspirational Naval Doctrine” from the book “The Rise of Indian Navy.”
So, what role did the Indian Navy play in this high-altitude war? Let’s delve into the details.
The Kargil War & The Tri-Service Strategy
The Kargil War commenced shortly after the Lahore Declaration was signed in 1999 when the Pakistani army covertly occupied Indian Army posts that had been vacated for the winter.
This move is believed to have been orchestrated by General Pervez Musharraf, then Chief of the Pakistan Army. Intrusions were detected on May 3, 1999, and on May 26, the Indian Air Force launched its first air-to-ground strike. The Indian Army then launched Operation Vijay to drive the intruders out of Indian territory. After two months of violent confrontation, the war came to an end on 26 July 1999.
The war involved three coordinated yet separate operations by the Armed Forces: the Indian Army launched ‘Operation Vijay,’ which served as the overarching operation; the Air Force conducted ‘Operation Safed Sagar’; and the Navy initiated ‘Operation Talwar.’
