From Tololing to Tiger Hill: Inside the Kargil War’s defining moments
Marking 25 years since India’s hard-fought victory in the 1999 Kargil War, this story revisits key moments from the battlefield, where grit, sacrifice, and strategy reclaimed our peaks and pride.
The Kargil War took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Jammu & Kashmir, after Pakistani soldiers and militants infiltrated Indian territory along the Line of Control (LoC). (Reuters)
2/5
India launched Operation Vijay to push back the intruders and recapture key peaks like Tololing, Tiger Hill, and Batalik. The operation involved high-altitude mountain warfare under extremely harsh conditions. (Reuters)
3/5
India lost over 500 soldiers, with more than 1,300 injured. Pakistani losses were higher but never officially acknowledged. Bravehearts like Captain Vikram Batra and Lt. Manoj Pandey became national heroes. (Reuters)
4/5
Despite being a limited war, it was significant as it was fought between two nuclear-armed nations shortly after both conducted nuclear tests in 1998. India chose not to cross the LoC, keeping the conflict contained. (Reuters)
The war exposed gaps in surveillance and coordination but also sparked major reforms in India’s military preparedness. Kargil Vijay Diwas is commemorated every July 26 to honour the soldiers’ sacrifice. (Reuters)
