The Nation paid tribute to the soldiers on Tuesday, who had sacrificed their lives and fought for the country during the two months long war in the icy heights of Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir bordering the part occupied by Pakistan in 1999.

On 17th Kargil Vijay Diwas, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi hailed the sacrifices made by the Indian soldiers and paid his tribute to the war heroes through a series of tweets this morning. He tweeted, “We recall with pride, the firmness demonstrated by India’s political leadership in 1999, which ensured a decisive victory in Kargil.” He tweeted further, “India will never forget the fearlessness with which our courageous soldiers gave a befitting & unforgettable reply to the intruders”

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag, Air Chief Marshal also paid their homage to the Kargil War martyrs in the national capital. In the Drass town in Jammu and Kashmir, the families of Kargil War heroes have paid tribute to the fallen heroes on the occasion of 17th Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Kargil Vijay Diwas remembers the victory in the war against Pakistan that began on 3 May and was brought to its conclusion on 26 July in 1999. Kargil Vijay Diwas, was named after the success of Operation “Vijay”. From a strategic standpoint, Kargil has been noted as being one of the most recent instances of high-altitude warfare in mountainous terrain, something that usually provides a major challenge to both sides.

The Kargil was also one of the few instances of conventional warfare between nuclear states.

The 17th Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations kicked off with great enthusiasm under the patronage of Fire and Fury Corps on July 21. Many local residents mostly youths and children of Drass and Kargil regions participated in the week-long celebrations. "The solemn memorial service is scheduled at the War Memorial on Monday evening and the celebrations will come to a close with a formal wreath-laying ceremony by the Army Commander, Northern Command,"

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By Prakriti Neogi