India celebrates 20 years of victory in Kargil War

India is celebrating the 20th anniversary of victory in the Kargil War against Pakistan today.

In an operation named "Operation Vijay" from May 3 to July 26 in 1999, the Indian soldiers overcame seemingly insurmountable odds, hostile terrains, weather, and a determined enemy which was occupying dominating heights, to win the war, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

The biggest challenge for the Indian Army in Kargil was that the Pakistani troops were positioned at a higher altitude.

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind is scheduled to visit the Kargil War Memorial in Dras town of Jammu and Kashmir today.

The Indian Army is covering a myriad spectrum of events in memory of its brave martyrs.

One of the major events was the setting off of a relay of a "Victory Flame" from the National War Memorial in New Delhi on July 14 to Kargil War Memorial in Dras.

The Victory Flame, which symbolises the coalescence of the souls of the Kargil War martyrs, was lit at the National War Memorial by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with Indian Army Chief General Bipin C Rawat.

To mark the 20th anniversary of victory of "Operation Vijay", all formations of Border Security Force will be conducting a series of activities in border areas.

Among other programmees to mark the Kargil War victory were felicitating the family members of martyrs and gallantry awardees of all uniformed forces (including state police) residing in border areas in Kargil, organising patriotic song competitions in primary schools of the area, weapon display, display of movies and photo galleries showcasing contribution of the forces in national security in border areas and organising lectures by senior BSF officers in schools and colleges to encourage the youth to join uniformed service.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shared the pictures of his visit as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader to the area during the Kargil Conflict and his "unforgettable" interactions with the troops.

"During the Kargil War in 1999, I had the opportunity to go to Kargil and show solidarity with our brave soldiers," he said on Twitter.

Modi said that in 1999, he was working for the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. 

Modi termed his visit to Kargil and interactions with soldiers as unforgettable.

The photographs posted by the Indian premier on the Twitter show him interacting with army men and meeting wounded soldiers. 

The war, which began on May 3 in 1999 in the Himalayan mountains of Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir, was triggered by intrusion of Pakistani soldiers into Indian territories.

The war ended on July 26, two months and 23 days after the Indian defence forces cleared the mountains of all Pakistani intruders.