Ladakh, July 26: Army Chief Honors Fallen Jawans on 24th Kargil Vijay Divas, Nation Remembers Their Supreme Sacrifice
Paying rich tributes to the valor of the Indian armed forces on the 24th Kargil Vijay Divas, Army Chief General Manoj Pande expressed that the jawans, who made the supreme sacrifice in the 1999 conflict with Pakistan, will forever live on in the hearts and minds of the people.
Addressing a somber commemoration event, General Pande laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial in memory of the fallen soldiers who bravely fought in the icy heights of Kargil. He stated, “The country will never forget the supreme sacrifice of our soldiers in the 1999 Kargil war.”
Recalling ‘Operation Vijay,’ the Army chief highlighted that it was a challenging and high-intensity military operation in the icy and unforgiving heights of Kargil. The terrain, under enemy possession, posed a significant challenge that our brave soldiers successfully accomplished. General Pande also commended the Air warriors for their crucial contribution to achieving the final objective.
Addressing the families of the Kargil heroes, the Army chief expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating, “The country will not forget your sacrifices and will forever be grateful to you.”
The commemoration event witnessed the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, who paid their respects to the fallen Kargil heroes at the memorial.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in his address, saluted the brave sons of the soil who prioritized the nation and did not hesitate to make the ultimate sacrifice during the Kargil conflict with Pakistan in 1999.
Following the wreath-laying ceremony, the Raksha Mantri met with the family members of the soldiers and presented them mementos and shawls as a mark of respect to the fallen Kargil heroes.
Later, he visited the ‘Hut of Remembrance’ museum in Drass, which holds memorabilia testifying to the valor and sacrifice of the Indian Army during the Kargil conflict.
The Kargil conflict, which lasted over two months, saw the Indian Army successfully pushing back the Pakistani intruders from certain vantage points in Kargil, raising the Tricolor on the territory wrested from the enemy.
The heroic conflict played out on the frontlines in the Dras, Kargil, and Batalik sectors of the Kargil district, etching a permanent mark of bravery and sacrifice in the annals of India’s military history.
Also read: Prime Minister Modi Honors Fallen Soldiers on Kargil Vijay Diwas
