Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. File

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Dhiraj Seth paid tributes to the fallen soldiers of the 1999 Kargil War on the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations, at Drass, in Ladakh, on July 26, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI

New Delhi:

The Young FICCI Ladies Organisation (YFLO) yesterday organised an event to honour the Air Force personnel on the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

The event highlighted the significance of Kargil Vijay Diwas as a celebration of the “indomitable spirit” of the Indian Air Force, which played a pivotal role in securing India’s victory in the Kargil War.

Retired Squadron Leader Archana Kapoor Archana Kapoor, one of the first women pilots in the Indian Air Force, recounted her inspiring journey and experiences during the Kargil War.

Air Veteran Group Captain Nitin Welde, a gallantry award recipient with over 5,000 hours of flying experience, also shared his remarkable experiences.

The memory of the 1999 Kargil War remains fresh in the minds of ex-servicemen who battled the harsh conditions of high-altitude terrain and the constant threat of enemy fire to secure India’s victory

Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed annually on July 26, commemorates the success of Operation Vijay in 1999. During this conflict, Indian forces successfully reclaimed strategic positions in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir that had been infiltrated by Pakistani soldiers and terrorists.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while paying a tribute to soldiers who died in the 1999 Kargil War, said that Pakistan has not learnt anything from the loss and continues to harbour terrorists. 

“Pakistan faced defeat whenever it has carried out any misadventure. It has not learned any lessons from history,” PM Modi said at the Kargil War memorial.

Paying a tribute to the Indian soldiers who died in the war, PM Modi said that their sacrifice for the nation is immortal and will always be remembered in the form of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

On July 26, 1999, the Indian Army announced the successful culmination of ‘Operation Vijay’, declaring victory after a nearly three-month-long battle on the icy heights of Kargil in Ladakh.

The day is observed as Kargil Vijay Diwas to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in the war.

Earlier today, PM Modi carried out the “first blast” for the construction of a tunnel that aims to provide all-weather connectivity between Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh. The Prime Minister carried out the “first blast”, marking the start of construction of the Shinkun La tunnel, remotely from Ladakh’s Drass.

Kargil (Ladakh):

As the country celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas on Friday, the families of the soldiers remembered the bravery and dedication of their loved ones and paid tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in the 1999 Kargil War.

Param Vir Chakra awardee Subedar Major (Honorary Capt) Yogendra Singh Yadav (Retd.) said that the people of the nation are proud of the soldiers who laid their lives for the country.

“Today the people of the country are proud of the soldiers who laid their lives for the country. Today we have gathered here at the memorial in Drass to pay homage to those brave soldiers,” he said.

Subedar Major RT Rais Ahmed said that he got involved in the Indian Army in 1997 and remembered all the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation.

“For the past three years, we have come here to pay tribute to our brave soldiers. The Army has become much stronger and stronger. They fight for our country in our situation. On the occasion of 25 Kargil Vijay Diwas, we remember all our soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation. Ahead of PM Modi’s visit here today, the morale of the Armed Forces will be boosted,” he said.

Veteran Chief Petty Officer Radio IND Navy Anant Joshi said, “The 25th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas is very important for us. In which 527 people sacrificed their lives for the nation. The people who sacrificed their lives for the country were the youngsters. The people of today’s generation should learn all this.”

Eshanika, daughter of an Army officer, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that, as the PM, he is doing a really great job.

“PM Modi coming here is a really good thing and I am always a fan of him, like he is my role model. So I am pretty happy. Him coming here and paying tribute is a really good thing.” she said.

Tashi Namgyal, the man who first spotted Pakistani intruders, said that he gave the report to the forces and after eight, the war started.

“During that time, I saw six people with the binoculars and then I gave the report to the Punjab unit,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Kargil, security was heightened ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Kargil War Memorial on the occasion of the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas 2024.

PM Modi will visit Kargil today on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas and pay homage to the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.

PM Modi will visit the Kargil War Memorial at around 9:20 am and pay tribute to the bravehearts. Prime Minister Modi will also carry out the first blast of the Shinkun La Tunnel Project, virtually

The arrangements are in full accordance with security purposes at the Kargil War Memorial at Dras, ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit.

Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed annually on July 26, commemorates the success of Operation Vijay in 1999. During this conflict, Indian forces successfully reclaimed strategic positions in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir that had been infiltrated by Pakistani soldiers and terrorists.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the Kargil Vijay Diwas is an occasion to pay tributes to the ‍courage and extraordinary valour of the country’s armed forces.

Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed on July 26 every year to mark India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1999 war.

The Indian Army had launched a fierce counter-assault to push back Pakistani forces that had stealthily occupied important heights in Ladakh.

“Kargil Vijay Diwas is an occasion for a grateful nation to pay tribute to the ‍courage and extraordinary valour of our armed forces,” Murmu said in a post in Hindi on X.

“I pay tribute to each soldier who made the supreme sacrifice while protecting Mother India on the peaks of Kargil in 1999 and bow in reverence to their sacred memory. I am sure that all countrymen will draw inspiration from their sacrifice and valour. Jai Hind Jai Bharat!” she said.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Ladakh:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kargil today on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas and pay homage to the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.

PM Modi will visit the Kargil War Memorial at around 9:20 am and pay tribute to the bravehearts.

The arrangements are in full accordance with security purposes at the Kargil War Memorial at Dras, ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit.

The Prime Minister will carry out the first blast of the Shinkun La Tunnel Project virtually.

An official release said that Shinkun La Tunnel Project consists of a 4.1 km long Twin-Tube tunnel which will be constructed at an altitude of around 15,800 feet on the Nimu – Padum – Darcha Road to provide all-weather connectivity to Leh.

Once completed, it will be the highest tunnel in the world. Shinkun La tunnel will not only ensure swift and efficient movement of the country’s armed forces and equipment but also foster economic and social development in Ladakh.

As the country celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas today, the families of the soldiers remember the bravery and dedication of their loved ones who laid their lives during the war between India and Pakistan at icy heights in 1999.

Madhubala, widow of Kargil hero Vinod Kumar, said, “On May 18, 1997, we got married and on June 14, 1999, he lost his life. I feel very good to be here and feel proud.”

Rajender Kumar, the elder brother of Kargil hero, soldier Bejender Kumar, said that he feels proud that his brother died for the country.

“I feel so proud; he died for the country. We remember him every day,” he said.

Prashanti, wife of Kargil hero, Group Captain K Nachiketa Rao, said that, like all the other countrymen, she used to pray everyday for his repatriation from Pakistan.

K Nachiketa Rao was a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force who was captured by Pakistani forces before he was handed over to the Indian authorities.

“I feel very proud. The bravery and courage he had shown. We were not married at the time of the war. We married after two years of it. Like all the other countrymen, we used to pray every day for his repatriation (from Pakistan). We feel proud as there are very few people who get such a chance to show such bravery and then get to comeback and live to tell those tales,” Prashanti said.

Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed annually on July 26, commemorates the success of Operation Vijay in 1999. During this conflict, Indian forces successfully reclaimed strategic positions in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir that had been infiltrated by Pakistani soldiers and terrorists.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)