Kargil War – Pakistan’s Military Victory

After 1971, Pakistan had another official war with India in 1999 – The Kargil War held at the Tiger hills, Line of Control (LOC), took place between May-July 1999 which created a permanent jeremiad in India when they lose miserably from Pakistan. Had India not pushed the International pressure, especially from U.S,they would have faced heavy loss of lives of their soldiers.

The main cause of such conflict was the infiltration of Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri militants into positions on the Indian side of LOC. From winters of 1998, India wanted to capture the peaks of Pakistan like Siachin and Tiger hills because from Tiger hills and Point 5353 the Indian National highway NH 1D can be clearly observed. India has attempted to capture these ranges several times, to secure the NH1D from the observation of Pakistan and furthermore to keep an eye on the movements of Pakistan army.

In December 1998, Indian Army had planned for this and to endure this plan, they opened fire without any reason. This violent act wasn’t normal. Apart from this, Pak Army already had information about the preparations of war by India. Whenever Indian Army observes any void place they enter in it not withstanding of “Shimla Contract”. However, Pakistani troops didn’t cross the International Borders but Indian troops did.

Pakistan Army had authentic news of Indian Army movements near LOC. In the spring of 1999, on the orders of Army Chief, General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistani soldiers climbed up the snow-bound passes and occupied some high positions, including Tiger Hill and Point 5353, in the vacant area and infiltrated almost 10 km into the Indian Territory (still short of International Border).

On 2nd May, 1999, Pakistan and Indian Army had first conflict when Indian soldiers intentionally entered the “Shewick Sector”.

Then on 7th May, the second encounter of Indian Army took place in the area of “Bitalik” with Kashmiri Freedom fighters. In the face-off Indian armymet a massive defeat along with heavy loss of their arms and infantry.

Afterwards, on 10th May, the troops of Hurriyat Party fought with Indian soldiers in “Draas area” which was a terrible shock for Indian Army Officials.

Indian Army ordered their Air force to observe the movements of Kashmiri Mujahedeen’s and destroyed their hideouts. Moreover, Indian Air force entered the Pakistani Airspace and tried to bombard the bunkers of Pakistani soldiers but the valiant sons of Pakistan destroyed two IAF aircrafts by the Stringer Missiles.

Nevertheless, the combatants of Kashmiri freedom fighters played a significant role in this conflict to back off Indian soldiers.

In the month of May, Indian Army deployed the troops along with their artillery at the border and in occupied Kashmir. After evacuating the mountain ranges from Kashmiri combatants, Indian army began to target the Pakistan Army’s check posts. Which were being guarded by seven to eight Pakistani soldiers. Regardless of being limited in number and resources, Pakistani soldiers equally responded the opponent and did not let the enemy succeed.

On 4th July 1999, Pakistani troops were still positioned at “Draas, Baltik and Shewik” as they were before. The Kargil war isa historical event of Pakistan in which the Pakistan Army and Kashmiri Freedom fighters gave a miserable defeat to Indian Army. Only 5 battalions of Pak Army and Kashmiri combatants inflicted Indian Army to leave Pakistani land. A number Pak Army soldiers, Commanders in northern areas fought bravely and embraced martyred. They belonged to the Northern Light Infantry (NLI) which is regarded as “Queen Infantry”.

On the other hand, same day President Bill Clinton and the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif have agreed for ceasefire and withdrawal of troops due to severe international pressure. The pressure was createdat the behest of India, because India faced a dejected defeat and resilient resistance from Pakistan Army on the battlefield.Due to the political decision of withdrawal of forces,number of Pakistan army soldiers faced martyrdom.

Before ceasefire our 157 soldiers were martyred and 250 were injured, however, due to the orders of retreat the toll reached to 200 martyrs and 415 injured. Pak Army dominated the enemy in the battled and knocked down all the cowardly attacks of Indian Army but due to International pressure and continuous orders of withdrawal and ceasefire from PM Nawaz Sharif the Army had to stop.Even in such circumstances our soldiers compelled the Indian soldiers to leave behind their arms and artillery. India still does not accept their defeat from the hands of Pakistan, but the former Army Chief of India accepted that they lost in Kargil War. As per Indian estimate, 600 soldiers of Indian Army were killed in action and 1500 were injured. In reality, they faced almost double casualties from their estimate.

This war was conquered by Pakistan and this shall be written in “Golden Words”. The efforts of Former Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf and Pakistan Army’s Ghazis and martyred soldiers will still remain in every Pakistanis heart. They are and will be our heroes and we will never forget and won’t let their sacrifices go in vain. Our Army has made a strong position in Siachin from which they can restrict and prevent Indian soldiers. After such a miserable defeat, India tried a number of times to capture Tiger hills and Point 5353 but they can’t come over as they were in frontage of Pakistan Army. Apart from this, Indian TV channels gives glimpses of the war and states about the destruction of ammunition depot by Pakistani soldiers which caused Rs. 100 Crore loss to India.

Former President, Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf regarded the KargilConflict as:

“A military victory was converted into a political defeat.”