Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023

Every year on July 26 we celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas to honour the Indian soldiers who fought bravely in the Kargil War. This year we are celebrating the 24th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas. 

The Kargil War was fought between India and Pakistan in 1999 at the mountain tops of Kargil district, Ladakh. Following the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, there had been a long period of unrest between India and Pakistan. The tension was increased due to the activities going on in Kashmir. In 1999, to dissolve the conflicts between the two nations, the Lahore Declaration was signed. Even though the Declaration was a way to ensure peace between the two countries, some Pakistani Armed Forces were training, crossing the boundary and entering the Indian territory  (LOC). Their aim was to cause the Indian forces to withdraw from the Siachen Glacier by breaking the connections between Kashmir and Ladakh. 

To combat the infiltration, the Indian troops decided to take them out. The operation was named Operation Vijay and comprised 200,000 Indian troops. This war came to be known as the Kargil War. It lasted for three months and ended on July 26, 1999, with India’s win. 527 Indian soldiers lost their lives in the war.

Every year to give tribute to the fallen soldiers, parades, memorial services and cultural events are organised across the country.