KARGIL WAR

OP VIJAY
1999
LETS NOT FORGET -
THE ACTS OF
BRAVERY BY INDIAN
SOLDIER
KARGIL SECT : 168 KM ALONG LC

NJ 9842
 MAJ MTN RGS

KARGIL
LEH
SRINAGAR
 RDS AND TRS

GILGIT

SKARDU

BATALIK

KARGIL
LEH
SRINAGAR

PADUM

JAMMU

MANALI
 IMP TOWNS & VILLS ALONG RD SRINAGR – LEH

KARGIL
DRAS
KAKSAR
KHALSI
PANDRAS NIMU
GUMRI

LEH
SRINAGAR
IMP TOWNS ALONG KARGIL – BATALIK – LEH AXIS

BATALIK
BARCHE
DAH
KARGIL HANUTHANG

KHALSI

LEH
SRINAGAR
 SUB SECTS

BATALIK

KARGIL
DRAS
 KARGIL SECT

HTS VARYING FROM 12000FT TO 21000FT

 KARGIL SECT

RIDGELINES ARE RAZOR SHARP

 KARGIL SECT

DEVOID OF VEG AND DEVP INFRASTRUCTURE

 KARGIL SECT

RESTD APCHS FOR ATTACK

RD SRINAGAR – KARGIL – LEH
STRAT IMP

POK

LC NJ 9842
AKSAI CHIN

KARGIL LEH
SRINAGAR

J&K CHINA
NH 1A
JAMMU
PATHANKOT
MANALI
 STRAT IMP
AGPL

SIACHEN

POK NJ 9842

TURTOK
CHORBAT LA

LC BATALIK
KARGIL

KAKSAR
MUSHKOH DRASS
INDIA
NH 1A NH 1A
KASHMIR : BONE OF CONTENTION

GILGIT

SKARDU

BATALIK

KARGIL
LEH
SRINAGAR

PADUM

JAMMU

MANALI
Evict Intrusions at all Costs
Exhibit will to Safeguard National Interest
MIL STRAT
ADOPT A STRAT POSTURE TO PREVENT
PAKISTAN FOCUSING ONLY ON KARGIL
 MAINT PRESSURE ON PAKISTAN
THROUGHOUT THE LC AND THE IB SECT
RETAIN STRAT BAL TO COUNTER
SUDDEN AND RAPID ESCALATION
OP STRAT
MASSIVE CONC OF FIREPOWER
 SIACHEN

KARGIL
DRAS

LEH
SRINAGAR

OVERWHELMING SUPERIORITY OF
FORCES AT PT OF APPLICATION
 GULTARI

KARGIL

DRAS
SONAMARG

BALTAL

CUT OF ROUTES OF MAINT OF THE EN

 CONDUCT

• OP VIJAY WAS LAUNCHED ON 18 MAY 99 TO

SMOTHER THE NEFARIOUS DESIGNS OF THE EN
AND EVICT HIM FROM OUR TERRITORY.

• OP VIJAY WAS FOUGHT IN ONE OF THE MOST

TREACHEROUS TRN & CLIMATIC CONDITIONS.

• THE OPS STOOD OUT AS A SAGA OF PATRIOTISM,

BRAVERY, VALOUR, GRIT, DETERMINATION AND
SACRIFICE BY OUR SOLDIERS.
 SPEED & FEROCITY
IS OF
OUR REACTION

SURPRISED PAKISTAN AND MADE

THEIR CALCULATIONS GO AWRY.
OUR DECISION TO USE THE AIR FORCE
DEMORALISED THEM FURTHER.
BATTLES DURING
OP VIJAY
 DRAS SECT
MASHKOH SANDO BIMBAT
SUB SECT SUB SECT SUB SECT

• VIJAY HILL • PT 4875 (BATRA TOP) • UDAI HILL

COMPLEX • TIGER HILL • PT 5245
• PIMPLE • PT 5130 • TOLOLING
• NAGA HILL • PT 5100 • PT 5140
• PT 4700
• THREE PIMPLES
• TRI JN PD
• KHUKHRI
• ZULU SPUR
 OTHER SECTS
KARGIL BATALIK TURTOK & SIACHEN
SECT SECT SECT

• CHORBATLA • JUBAR • SUB SECTOR

• KAKSAR • K’ THANG RIDGE HANEEF (PT 5590)
• MUNTHO DHALO • PT 5770
• KHALUBAR
• CHURBAR SISPO
(PT 5203)
MAJ BATTLES
BATTLE FOR
TOLOLING
 TOLOLING
HT 17,100 FT
SKARDU

POK LC

TOLOLING LC
LC BATALIK
KARGIL

DRASS
INDIA
NH 1A NH 1A
 5140

TOLOLING

3 KMS

BIMBAT
NH 1A

DRAS DRAS R
 BATTLE FOR TOLOLING
• TOLOLING EFFECTIVELY
DOMINATES DRAS SECT ON NH IA,
BOTH BY OBSN AND FIRE.
• EN INTRUSION WAS DETECTED ON
14 MAY.
• FIRST ATTACK WAS LAUNCHED ON TOLOLING
18 MAY UNDER EXTREME HOSTILE
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, INVOLVING
11 HOURS OF STEEP CLIMB WITH
BATTLE LOADS.
• HY RESISTANCE WAS OFFERED BY
EN TPS, WHO HELD THE FEATURE
STRONGLY IN FORTIFIED DEFS.
• THE ATTACK WAS STALLED.
 BATTLE FOR TOLOLING

• FOUR MORE ATTACKS WERE LAUNCHED BETWEEN

22 MAY TO 02 JUN WHICH TOO WERE REPULSED,
INFLICTING HY CAS ON OWN TPS.
• AFTER REGROUPING, REORGANISING AND MOD OF
PLANS BETWEEN 03 TO 11 JUN, FRESH ATTACKS
WERE LAUNCHED.
• DUE TO VALOUR, GRIT AND DETERMINATION OF
OWN TPS, SP BY OVERWHELMING FIRE SP, THE EN
RESISTANCE COLLAPSED.
 BATTLE FOR TOLOLING

• TOLOLING WAS FINALLY CAPTURED

AFTER ONE MONTH OF FIERCE
FIGHTING.

• BOTH SIDES SUFFERED HY CAS. TOLOLING

• CAPTURE OF TOLOLING WAS THE
TURNING PT OF OP VIJAY IN INDIA’S
FAVOUR, WHICH OPENED THE WAY
FOR CAPTURE OF TIGER HILL AND
OTHER OBJS.
 TOLOLING CAPTURED

TOLOLING
 THEY DID IT FOR US

MAJ R ADHIKARI, MVC (P) LT COL R VISHAWANATHAN, VrC (P)

 BATTLE FOR PT
4875 (BATRA TOP)
 TIGER HILL SANDO
ROCK FALL

BATRA TOP
HEIGHT 16,100 FT

MUGHALPURA PANDRAS
DRAS
 BATTLE FOR PT 4875
• PT 4875 IS AN IMP FEATURE NORTH WEST OF DRAS,
DOMINATING NH 1A FROM DRAS TO MUGHALPURA, A
STRETCH OF 30 KMS.
• THE FEATURE WAS STRONGLY HELD BY ALMOST A
COY STR OF EN PERS.
• THIS FORMIDABLE FEATURE WAS FIRST ASSAULTED
ON NI 04 / 05 JUL.
• ATTACK CONTINUED ON 05 & O6 JUL. AFTER FIERCE
FIGHTING & HAND TO HAND COMB, PT 4875 WAS
CAPTURED ON 07 JUL.
 BATTLE FOR PT 4875
• SENSING IMP OF THIS FEATURE, EN LAUNCHED 02
COUNTER ATTACKS WHICH WERE SUCCESSFULLY
BEATEN BACK INFLICTING HY LOSSES TO THE EN.
• THE NATION LOST ONE OF THE MOST COURAGEOUS
SOLDIERS & A DYNAMIC YOUNG LDR IN CAPT VIKRAM
BATRA. PT 4875 HAS BEEN NAMED AS ‘BATRA TOP’ AS A
TRIBUTE TO THE DEPARTED HERO.
PT 4875 CAPTURED
CAPT VIKRAM BATRA
13 JAK RIF ( P )
BATTLE FOR
TIGER HILL
 BATTLE FOR TIGER HILL

• TIGER HILL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMP TAC HTS, WHICH

DOMINATES VAST TRACTS OF DRAS SECT.
• DURING INITIAL INT INPUTS, STR OF PAK SOLDIERS
OCCUPYING TIGER HILL WAS GROSSLY
UNDERESTIMATED.
• PROBING ACTION, INITIAL ATTACKS AND ISOLATION OF
TIGER HILL WAS CARRIED OUT BY OWN TPS IN MAY AND
JUN AT A COST OF OWN HY CAS.
 TIGER HILL
HEIGHT 17,000 FT
 BATTLE FOR TIGER HILL

• LESSONS LEARNT DURING CAPTURE

OF TOLOLING WERE
CONSEQUENTLY APPLIED.
TOP
• MAJ ATTACK WAS LAUNCHED ON
TIGER HILL ON 03 JUL FROM THREE
DIRECTIONS, SP BY OVERWHELMING
ARTY FIRE SP.
• TIGER HILL WAS CAPTURED ON 04
JUL DESPITE STIFF EN RESISTANCE.
• HY CAS WERE SUFFERED BY BOTH
SIDES.
• CAPTURE OF TIGER HILL WAS A
LANDMARK VICTORY DURING OP
VIJAY.
GDR Y S YADAV
18 GRENADIERS
BATALIK SECT

BATALIK
KARGIL
 TRN
IMPORTANT NULLAHS IN BATALIK SECTOR

SKARDU

CHURUBAR PO
PT 5229

SHANGRUTI PT 5285
C
H CHORBATLA
PT 5203
I
N

JUNK LUNGPA
GRAGIO N
A

N PT 4812
CHINA N

U PT 4821
GARKUN N

L
L
A
H
BATALIK
DETECTION OF INTRUSION

KUKURTHANG

KHALUBAR
JUBAR

RD SRINAGAR- LEH
PT 5203

BATTLE OF PT 5203
 5 NLI
KUKURTHANG

KHALUBAR
JUBAR

PT 5203

RD SRINAGAR- LEH
IMPORTANT BATTLE
NULLAHSOFINPTBATALIK
5203 SECTOR

C
H
I PT 5203 CHORBATLA
N

JUNK LUNGPA
GRAGIO N
A

N PT 4812
CHINA N

U
GARKUN N

L
L
A
H
BATALIK
 ATTACK PLAN OF PT 5203

PT 5203
RC CHURUBAR SISPO

12 JAK LI
5 PARA
 EXEC OF ATTACK OF PT 5203

PT 5203
RC CHURUBAR SISPO

12 JAK LI
5 PARA
 EXEC OF ATTACK OF PT 5203

22 JUN 99
PT 5203
RC
…
CHURUBAR SISPO

5 LS
… …
…
10 PARA 12 JAK LI
5 PARA
 BATTLE OF
KHALUBAR RIDGE INCL PT 4812

5 NLI
KUKURTHANG

JUBAR KHALUBAR

RD SRINAGAR- LEH
IMPORTANT KHALUBAR
NULLAHS INRIDGE
BATALIK SECTOR

C
H CHORBATLA
PT 5203
I
N
KHALUBAR

JUNK LUNGPA
A

N PT 4812
CHINA N

U
GARKUN N

L
GRAGIO N
L
A
H
BATALIK
KHULABAR RIDGE
N
PLAN OF ATTACK OF PT 4812
PT 4812

STOPS C

A
N EXEC OF ATTACK OF PT 4812

PT 4812

STOPS C

B
A
IMPORTANT NULLAHS
BATTLE IN BATALIK
OF KHALUBAR SECTOR
RIDGE

C
H CHORBATLA
PT 5203
I
N KHALUBAR

JUNK LUNGPA
A

N PT 4812
CHINA N

U
GARKUN N

L
L
A
H
BATALIK
 KHALUBAR COMPLEX
PT 5287

KHALUBAR

PT 4812

YALDOR
 PLAN OF ATTACK OF KHALUBAR

PT 4812 PT 5287
KHALUBAR

12 JAK LI
B A D 22 GREN

B A 1/11 GR(RES)

VIEW FROM JUNG LUNGPA

 EXEC OF ATTACK OF KHALUBAR COMPLEX

PT 4812 PT 5287
KHALUBAR

03 JUL 99

B A D 22 GREN

B A 1/11 GR(RES)

VIEW FROM JUNG LUNGPA

DRAWN Khukris FLASH AFTER THE CAPTURE OF
KHALUBAR NORTH BY 1 / 11 GR
VICTORS OF PT 4812
BATTLE OF JUBAR

5 NLI
KUKURTHANG

KHALUBAR

JUBAR

RD SRINAGAR- LEH
IMPORTANT BATTLE
NULLAHSOFINJUBAR
BATALIK SECTOR

C
H

KHALUBAR
PT 5203 CHORBATLA
I
N

JUNK LUNGPA
A

N PT 4812
CHINA N

U
GARKUN N

L GRAGIO N
L
A
H
BATALIK
 BATTLE OF JUBAR
17 GARH RIF

BUMPS
COMPLEX

PH 3
JUBAR MAIN

PT4924 PH 2
JUBAR TOP

PH 1
PT4268
JUBAR OP

1 BIHAR
 BATTLE OF JUBAR

PT 4924

JUBAR TOP

JUBAR OP
B

C
A
NATIONAL FLAG ATOP JUBAR COMPLEX
 TURTOK SECT

DRAS
RD SRINAGAR- LEH
INITIAL OPS IN TURTUK SECT

PIUN
SIARI

SUB SECTOR WEST BN

TYAKSHI

TURTUK GAP V CUT TURTUK

PT 5720
ZANG PAL

PT 5590 LEDGE
AREA SADDLE
MANGEJ
PT 6041
CHORBAT LA ROCK FALL PP
HANUMAN OP
PT 6041

PT 5720

SADDLE

PT 5590

KARCHAN GLACIER
PT 6041

PT 5720

V CUT

SADDLE
PT 5590
B C

ATTACK PLAN : PT 5590 COMPLEX

 EXEC OF ATTACK : PT 5590 COMPLEX

PT 6041

PT 5590 PT 5720 V CUT

B
SADDLE C 08 AUG 99

A ADV 2045H ON 02 AUG 99

BRAVE SOLDIERS OF IA
 SIT POST 10 JUL 99
• BY 10 JUL, EN WAS EVICTED FROM 98% OF BATALIK &
95% OF DRAS SECTS.
• ON 11 JUL, THE DGMO OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN MET
AT ATTARI ON THE LATTER’S REQUEST, TO WK OUT
THE WITHDRAWAL PLAN. DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION
OF WITHDRAWAL WAS GIVEN AS 16 JUL 0600 HRS BY
INDIA.
• WITHDRAWAL COMMENCED IMMEDIATELY
THEREAFTER, BEGINNING WITH KAKSAR AREA.
• DEADLINE WAS AGAIN EXTENDED TO 17 JUL 0600 HRS
(24 HOURS) ON REQUEST OF PAK DGMO.
• AFTER 17 JUL, THREE EN POCKETS STILL REMAINED
IN MASHKOH, DRAS AND BATALIK.
PAKISTANI TPS WERE
COMPLETELY EVICTED
BY 26 JUL 99
 KARGIL WAS PAKISTAN’S
BIGGEST BLUNDER
“Kargil has been Pakistan’s
biggest blunder. Pakistani
people who were told that
Pakistan is winning the
War, are bewildered and
humiliated”.
Benazir Bhutto
The Asian Age
05 Aug 99
 END
STATE
 PAK CAS

KILLED - 772 ( INCL 69 OFFRs

& 76 SSG PERS )

WOUNDED - 1000 PLUS

NOTE : IN A LATER STATEMENT BY NAWAZ

SHARIFF, WHILE IN EXILE, THE PAK
CAS FIGURES WERE PUT AT ALMOST
1500 KILLED AND 2000 WOUNDED.
 OWN CAS
ARMY AIR FORCE
• KILLED 478 5

• WOUNDED 1122 -

OFFR CAS
KILLED - 25
WOUNDED - 57
Note : 60% OFFRS WERE KILLED DURING ASLT.
 General VP Malik, PVSM, AVSM, ADC

“ THE ARTY HAS PLAYED AN IMP ROLE SO

FAR IN THE SUCCESS OF THE OPS.
ALTOGETHER THE GNR CONTRIBUTION
TO OUR SUCCESSES IS LAUDABLE . THEY
HAVE SHOWN A HIGH DEG OF COURAGE
AND INDOMITABLE RESOLVE TO DEL. ”
 THE WAY AHEAD

 NEED TO IDEN AND EVOLVE A WIN - WIN SIT.

 STRONG POLITICAL RESOLVE TO FIND A

VIABLE SOLUTION TO KASHMIR.

 ‘MUJAHIDEEN CULTURE’ IN PAK TO BE

CURBED.

 ENHANCE CROSS BORDER TRADE FOR

ECONOMIC GAINS.
 A TRIBUTE
• OPERATION VIJAY, IN EFFECT, IS THE STORY OF THOSE
VALIANT SOLDIERS WHO FACED THE MOST DIFFICULT
ODDS IN WARDING OFF THE “GRAB DESIGNS” OF THE
ENEMY. IT IS A CLASSICAL EXAMPLE OF THE SLOGAN
“ BLOOD FOR FREEDOM” BY NETAJI SUBHASH
CHANDRA BOSE.

• BLOOD WAS THERE IN ABUNDANCE IN THE FORM OF

SUPREME SACRIFICE MADE BY 483 SOLDIERS DURING
OPERATION VIJAY.

• LET US REMEMBER THOSE “WHO GAVE THEIR TODAY

FOR OUR TOMMOROW”.
 A TRIBUTE
• A NATION WITHOUT HEROES IS A NATION WITHOUT A
FUTURE.

• OP VIJAY BROUGHT A SURFEIT OF REAL HEROES - MEN

OF UNSURMOUNTABLE RESOLVE AND NERVES OF
STEEL, WHO LAID THEIR LIVES FOR THE NATION.

• YOUNG OFFICERS, JCOs AND JAWANS OF THE INDIAN

ARMY GAVE THE TERM “ COURAGE UNDER FIRE ” A
NEW MEANING. THEY WERE UNWAVERING LEADERS
AND UNFLINCHING FOLLOWERS – VALIANT MEN WHO
HALLOWED HIGH MOUNTAIN TOPS WITH THEIR BLOOD
AND SELFLESS SACRIFICE.
 A TRIBUTE

• SOLDIERS OF INDIAN ARMY HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF

TIMES AND THE TRUST IMPOSED IN THEM BY THE
NATION UNDER MOST TRYING CONDITIONS, EVER SINCE
THE DAWN OF INDEPENDENCE ON 15 AUG 1947. THE
NATION WILL BE REST ASSURED OF THIS COMMITMENT
IN TIMES TO COME.
 • SUBEDAR Yogendra Singh Yadav, PVC
Unit- Grenadiers
Born-10 May 1980, Bulandshahr
Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav was part of the leading team of Ghatak Platoon tasked to capture Tiger Hill on the night
of 3/4 July 1999. The approach to the top was steep, snow bound and rocky. Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, unmindful of the
risk involved, volunteered to be in the lead and fixed rope of his team to climb up. On seeing the team, the enemy opened
intense automatic grenade, rocket and artillery fire killing the commander and two of his colleagues and the platoon were
stalled. Realising the gravity of the situation, Grenadier Yadav crawled up to the enemy position to silence it and in the process
sustained multiple injuries. Unmindful of his injuries and in the hail of enemy bullets, Grenadier Yadav continued climbing
towards the enemy positions. Lobbing grenades and continuously firing from his weapon, he killed four enemy soldiers in close
combat and silenced the automatic fire. Despite multiple injuries, he refused to be evacuated and continued the charge.
Inspired by his gallant act, the platoon charged on to the other positions with renewed punch and captured Tiger Hill Top.
Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav displayed the most conspicuous courage, indomitable gallantry, grit and determination
under extreme adverse circumstances.
 • Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey , PVC
Unit- 1/11 Gorkha Rifles
Born-25 June 1975, Sitapur
Died- 03 July 1999
Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey took part in a series of boldly led attacks during 'Operation
Vijay', forcing back the intruders the heavy losses in Batalik including the capture of Jaubar Top. On
the night of 2/3 July 1999 during the advance to Khalubar as his platoon approached its final objective;
it came under intense enemy fire from the surrounding heights. Lieutenant Pandey was tasked to clear
the interfering enemy positions, so as to prevent his battalion from getting daylighted, being in a
vulnerable position. He quickly moved his platoon to an advantageous position under intense enemy
fire, sent one section to clear the enemy positions from the right and he proceeded to clear the enemy
positions from the left. Fearlessly assaulting the first enemy position, he killed two enemy personnel
and then destroyed the second position by killing two more. He was injured on the shoulder and legs
while clearing the third position. Undaunted and without caring for his grevious injuries, he continued
to lead the assault on the fourth position and destroyed the same with a grenade, even as he got a fatal
MMG burst on his forehead. The singular daredevil act of Lieutenant Pandey provided the critical
firm base for the companies, which finally led to capture of the Khalubar. The officer however
succumbed to his injuries