Srinagar, Jul 25: As the country marks the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26, the victory of Operation Vijay remains a defining chapter in India’s military history. The 1999 conflict not only led to the recapture of strategic mountain heights occupied by Pakistani forces but also triggered wide-ranging reforms that continue to shape India’s defence policy and military preparedness.
The Kargil conflict began in May 1999 when Pakistani troops, backed by armed infiltrators under Operation Badr, occupied Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) after they had been vacated during the winter months. The objective was to disrupt the Srinagar-Leh highway and isolate Indian troops deployed in the Siachen sector.
India launched Operation Vijay with the clear objective of evicting the intruders while respecting the sanctity of the LoC. Over the next two months, Indian soldiers fought in some of the most challenging conditions, scaling steep, high-altitude peaks under continuous enemy fire to reclaim strategic positions.
The Battle of Tololing, where Indian troops regained control on June 13, marked a major breakthrough. This was followed by the recapture of Tiger Hill on July 4. Fierce fighting also took place in Batalik, Mushkoh Valley, Kaksar and Point 4875 before all occupied positions were restored. On July 14, 1999, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced the successful completion of Operation Vijay.
The victory came at a significant human cost, with hundreds of Indian soldiers sacrificing their lives. Their courage was recognised with four Param Vir Chakras, India’s highest wartime gallantry award.
Military experts widely regard the Kargil conflict as a turning point in India’s national security planning. In the years that followed, the government introduced several structural reforms, including the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Department of Military Affairs to improve coordination among the three armed forces.
The war also accelerated efforts to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing. Greater participation by private industry, increased foreign investment and a stronger focus on indigenous production have significantly expanded India’s defence industrial base over the past two decades.
Official figures, accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), indicate that defence production has risen substantially since 2014, while exports of Indian-made military equipment have expanded to more than 80 countries. Indigenous platforms, including INS Vikrant, BrahMos missiles and the Pinaka rocket system, have become key components of the country’s military capability.
India’s response to cross-border terrorism has also evolved since the Kargil conflict. Military actions following the 2016 Uri attack, the 2019 Pulwama attack and Operation Sindoor in 2025 reflected an increasingly technology-driven and intelligence-based approach to counter-terror operations.
Operation Sindoor demonstrated the extensive use of precision intelligence, drones, loitering munitions and integrated air defence systems. During retaliatory drone and missile attacks launched by Pakistan in May 2025, India’s air defence network intercepted multiple aerial threats, highlighting capabilities that were unavailable during the Kargil War.
India has continued to strengthen its defence preparedness through advanced technologies, including long-range air defence systems, airborne early warning platforms and modern surveillance capabilities. Policy initiatives such as the Agnipath recruitment scheme, higher foreign direct investment limits in defence manufacturing and Defence Industrial Corridors have further contributed to military modernisation.
Kargil Vijay Diwas is being commemorated across the country through a series of events honouring the sacrifices of soldiers who fought in the conflict.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the 13-day Shaurya Vijay Yatra from the National War Memorial in New Delhi to the Kargil War Memorial in Drass. The expedition, covering nearly 1,900 kilometres, includes serving personnel, veterans and families of soldiers under the theme “One Ride, One Nation, One Salute”.
The Corps of Signals recently created a world record by riding two motorcycles carrying ten personnel through the Atal Tunnel in under ten minutes. The Army also organised a Tiger Hill expedition in collaboration with the Drass administration, while veterans, families of fallen soldiers and schoolchildren paid tributes at memorials across the Kargil region.
Twenty-seven years after the conflict, Kargil Vijay Diwas continues to symbolise courage, sacrifice and resilience. More than a remembrance of military victory, it stands as a reminder of the lessons learned from the war and the transformation of India’s defence capabilities since the summer of 1999. (KNO)
