India recently celebrated Kargil War Vijay Diwas (Victory Day) on July 26. The year 2026 was the 27th anniversary of the Indian-Pakistan war fought in 1999 in the high-altitude region of Jammu and Kashmir. India was at a disadvantage in the war, as the enemy had occupied peaks vacated by the Indian Army, as per the Shimla Agreement, during winters. The enemy had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) to occupy the empty peaks and had National Highway 1, which connects Srinagar to Delhi, in their sight, making it highly difficult for the Indian forces to recapture them, but India won eventually, despite the high cost.Last year, India and Pakistan were at loggerheads once again during Operation Sindoor - a three-day conflict in May 2025, which happened after the Pakistan-based terrorists killed more than 20 Indian tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. The three-day conflict was fought in a very different way than Kargil.WION's Prashant Talreja recently spoke to Major (retired) Lovendra Singh Chaudhary of the Army Service Corps (ASC), who had also served two full tenures in the Kashmir Valley, in counterterrorism and counter-insurgency operations, about what ideas were taken from Kargil by the Indian defence forces.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-missile-targeted-delhi-operation-sindoor-1786874457024">Pakistan targeted Delhi with high-speed missile during Operation Sindoor: Discovery documentary</a>"We have to make sure that all the posts, not just the LoC, but across all the borders that India shares with other countries. We have to monitor them using the best of the electronic means, best of the human electronic intelligence, and utilize our intelligence agencies. Everybody has to come together, come in sync and start working. And, these kinds of things were brought out by the AV Singh committee also."Remembering the role of the Indian Air Force and the Army in the Kargil war, Singh noted: "Initially, the Air Force was not employed, and as I have heard from people, the coordination was missing.""After Kargil, the Army, the Air Force and the Navy started working alongside each other on a lot of things. When I got commissioned in the early 2000s, that time we could also see those changes (reorganisation) were there. The need was realised by everybody, including the AV Singh Committee as well as the top leadership in the three armed forces. Now we have Marcos, Marine Commandos operating with us in Kashmir and all other parts and Garun Commandos are operating with us well."The realisation had come in that the leadership has to be looking forward like 20 years and 50 years. And when we got commissioned, we were told, you are not just a warrior, you're a scholar warrior. We have to be very thoughtful, and we have to look forward. Fighting and going into a battle is one aspect, but planning and preparing for battle today and in the future- that's even more important, and hence there is a lot of focus on academics, especially for officers."Also nowadays, since technological advancements are so high, even troops and Javans, we want them to be like tech-savvy and very tech-friendly."Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/for-the-first-time-india-reveals-name-of-six-soldiers-killed-during-operation-sindoor-1782463103041">For the first time, India reveals names of six soldiers killed during Operation Sindoor</a>On the question of how the stance of India has changed towards the enemy's misadventures post Kargil, Singh noted: "We are openly saying, you do this, we will go (cross LoC) and punish.""During the Kargil operations, we never crossed the line of control. Now, the aim is that armed forces should be so potent and so strong that any neighbour cannot look at us with an eye for misadventure."The armed forces have always been capable as seen in surgical strikes and Balakot strikes. But we got to understand something more - at one point when there is a change in the stance that India takes, that is, if you do something, we will come and hunt you down over there. We will not then respect the border and LoC. I think this is a very good and positive step that we are taking and it's important that we make it a policy."On what more is needed to keep the borders secured, Singh said, "We got to be very independent and very dominant in technology, man-power and warfare. Everything has to be better than the rest of the countries.""We can always go ahead and keep killing terrorists, but unless we cut that process of manufacturing more terrorists, it is not going to help ever and we have to be in that direction."

India’s defence strategy evolved from Kargil's defensive stance to active deterrence, as seen in Op Sindoor. Modern focus on joint operations, tech, and firm response deters border misadventures.

India recently celebrated Kargil War Vijay Diwas (Victory Day) on July 26. The year 2026 was the 27th anniversary of the Indian-Pakistan war fought in 1999 in the high-altitude region of Jammu and Kashmir. India was at a disadvantage in the war, as the enemy had occupied peaks vacated by the Indian Army, as per the Shimla Agreement, during winters. The enemy had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) to occupy the empty peaks and had National Highway 1, which connects Srinagar to Delhi, in their sight, making it highly difficult for the Indian forces to recapture them, but India won eventually, despite the high cost. Last year, India and Pakistan were at loggerheads once again during Operation Sindoor - a three-day conflict in May 2025, which happened after the Pakistan-based terrorists killed more than 20 Indian tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. The three-day conflict was fought in a very different way than Kargil. WION's Prashant Talreja recently spoke to Major (retired) Lovendra Singh Chaudhary of the Army Service Corps (ASC), who had also served two full tenures in the Kashmir Valley, in counterterrorism and counter-insurgency operations, about what ideas were taken from Kargil by the Indian defence forces. Also read: Pakistan targeted Delhi with high-speed missile during Operation Sindoor: Discovery documentary "We have to make sure that all the posts, not just the LoC, but across all the borders that India shares with other countries. We have to monitor them using the best of the electronic means, best of the human electronic intelligence, and utilize our intelligence agencies. Everybody has to come together, come in sync and start working. And, these kinds of things were brought out by the AV Singh committee also." Remembering the role of the Indian Air Force and the Army in the Kargil war, Singh noted: "Initially, the Air Force was not employed, and as I have heard from people, the coordination was missing." "After Kargil, the Army, the Air Force and the Navy started working alongside each other on a lot of things. When I got commissioned in the early 2000s, that time we could also see those changes (reorganisation) were there. The need was realised by everybody, including the AV Singh Committee as well as the top leadership in the three armed forces. Now we have Marcos, Marine Commandos operating with us in Kashmir and all other parts and Garun Commandos are operating with us well. "The realisation had come in that the leadership has to be looking forward like 20 years and 50 years. And when we got commissioned, we were told, you are not just a warrior, you're a scholar warrior. We have to be very thoughtful, and we have to look forward. Fighting and going into a battle is one aspect, but planning and preparing for battle today and in the future- that's even more important, and hence there is a lot of focus on academics, especially for officers. "Also nowadays, since technological advancements are so high, even troops and Javans, we want them to be like tech-savvy and very tech-friendly." Also read: For the first time, India reveals names of six soldiers killed during Operation Sindoor On the question of how the stance of India has changed towards the enemy's misadventures post Kargil, Singh noted: "We are openly saying, you do this, we will go (cross LoC) and punish." "During the Kargil operations, we never crossed the line of control. Now, the aim is that armed forces should be so potent and so strong that any neighbour cannot look at us with an eye for misadventure. "The armed forces have always been capable as seen in surgical strikes and Balakot strikes. But we got to understand something more - at one point when there is a change in the stance that India takes, that is, if you do something, we will come and hunt you down over there. We will not then respect the border and LoC. I think this is a very good and positive step that we are taking and it's important that we make it a policy." On what more is needed to keep the borders secured, Singh said, "We got to be very independent and very dominant in technology, man-power and warfare. Everything has to be better than the rest of the countries." "We can always go ahead and keep killing terrorists, but unless we cut that process of manufacturing more terrorists, it is not going to help ever and we have to be in that direction."

India’s defence strategy evolved from Kargil's defensive stance to active deterrence, as seen in Op Sindoor. Modern focus on joint operations, tech, and firm response deters border misadventures.

From Kargil to Op Sindoor: How 1999’s tactical lessons transformed India’s defence posture and border strategy

&nbsp;On this day in 1999 India gained a historic victory in the Kargil War by defeating Pakistan. Celebrating the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas India &nbsp;honours the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering resolve of the Bravehearts of Operation Vijay. The Kargil War reflects unmatched bravery, grit, and determination of the India armed forces and remains a lasting symbol of national pride and inspiration.&nbsp;On 26 July, Indian soldiers reclaimed the snow-covered heights of Kargil through extraordinary valour unfurling the Tricolour once again over the rugged mountains of Ladakh.&nbsp;In May 1999, intruders crossed the Line of Control and occupied Indian positions on commanding heights. Their aim was to cut the link between Kashmir and Ladakh and force India into negotiations on the Kashmir dispute. But India was going to give them a befitting reply with Operation Vijay.<h2>India launches Operation Vijay against the intruders backed by Pakistan</h2>&nbsp;The Kargil War began in the summer of 1999 on one of the world's harshest battlefields. As the country was experiencing scorching heat fierce battle unfolded across the heights of Kargil in freezing cold. Pakistani forces had infiltrated Indian territory and occupied winter vacated posts on commanding ridges. It remains the only conventional war fought between two nuclear armed nations.&nbsp;<h2>The infiltration</h2>&nbsp;The aim of Pakistani forces, disguised as Kashmiri terrorists, who had crossed the Line of Control and occupied Indian positions, was to &nbsp;isolate Indian Army troops on the Siachen Glacier and force India into negotiation on Kashmir.&nbsp;It was on May 3 1999 when the movements of the Pakistani soldiers were reported in the Kargil sector by local residents. Extensive patrolling and aerial surveillance confirmed revealed the occupation and the scale at which the Pakistani soldiers had occupied the posts.&nbsp;<h2>Operation Vijay begins</h2>&nbsp;The Indian Army launched Operation Vijay to evict the intruders. &nbsp;Priority was given to recapturing the heights dominating the Srinagar to Leh Highway but strict instructions were given by the government to not cross the Line of Control.&nbsp;Additional troops, artillery, engineers, specialised equipment, and logistics were rapidly inducted. Soldiers climbed near vertical cliffs under heavy enemy fire, freezing temperatures and unforgiving terrain to recapture the occupied heights by the Pakistani soldiers disguised as terrorists.&nbsp;<h2>The defining moment</h2>&nbsp;The battle of Tololing gave Indian forces the first major breakthrough. Point 4590 and Tololing was fully recaptured on 13 June, opening the way for further advances.&nbsp;The Battle of Tiger Hill was considered the defining moments of the war. Among the highest peaks in the Dras sector and one of the Indian Army's most important objectives the peak of Tiger Hill was recaptured on 4 July 1999, significantly shifting the momentum in India's favour.&nbsp;Fierce fighting also took place at Point 4875, Batalik, Mushkoh Valley, and Kaksar. Indian soldiers fought peak by peak to reclaim every occupied position. After nearly three months of relentless operations, every occupied Indian post was recaptured.&nbsp;The victory was achieved without even crossing the Line of Control, as instructed by the government. &nbsp;

Their aim of the intruders, who had occupied Indian posts was to cut the link between Kashmir and Ladakh and force India into negotiations on the Kashmir dispute. 

On this day in 1999 India gained a historic victory in the Kargil War by defeating Pakistan. Celebrating the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas India honours the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering resolve of the Bravehearts of Operation Vijay. The Kargil War reflects unmatched bravery, grit, and determination of the India armed forces and remains a lasting symbol of national pride and inspiration. On 26 July, Indian soldiers reclaimed the snow-covered heights of Kargil through extraordinary valour unfurling the Tricolour once again over the rugged mountains of Ladakh. In May 1999, intruders crossed the Line of Control and occupied Indian positions on commanding heights. Their aim was to cut the link between Kashmir and Ladakh and force India into negotiations on the Kashmir dispute. But India was going to give them a befitting reply with Operation Vijay. India launches Operation Vijay against the intruders backed by Pakistan The Kargil War began in the summer of 1999 on one of the world's harshest battlefields. As the country was experiencing scorching heat fierce battle unfolded across the heights of Kargil in freezing cold. Pakistani forces had infiltrated Indian territory and occupied winter vacated posts on commanding ridges. It remains the only conventional war fought between two nuclear armed nations. The infiltration The aim of Pakistani forces, disguised as Kashmiri terrorists, who had crossed the Line of Control and occupied Indian positions, was to isolate Indian Army troops on the Siachen Glacier and force India into negotiation on Kashmir. It was on May 3 1999 when the movements of the Pakistani soldiers were reported in the Kargil sector by local residents. Extensive patrolling and aerial surveillance confirmed revealed the occupation and the scale at which the Pakistani soldiers had occupied the posts. Operation Vijay begins The Indian Army launched Operation Vijay to evict the intruders. Priority was given to recapturing the heights dominating the Srinagar to Leh Highway but strict instructions were given by the government to not cross the Line of Control. Additional troops, artillery, engineers, specialised equipment, and logistics were rapidly inducted. Soldiers climbed near vertical cliffs under heavy enemy fire, freezing temperatures and unforgiving terrain to recapture the occupied heights by the Pakistani soldiers disguised as terrorists. The defining moment The battle of Tololing gave Indian forces the first major breakthrough. Point 4590 and Tololing was fully recaptured on 13 June, opening the way for further advances. The Battle of Tiger Hill was considered the defining moments of the war. Among the highest peaks in the Dras sector and one of the Indian Army's most important objectives the peak of Tiger Hill was recaptured on 4 July 1999, significantly shifting the momentum in India's favour. Fierce fighting also took place at Point 4875, Batalik, Mushkoh Valley, and Kaksar. Indian soldiers fought peak by peak to reclaim every occupied position. After nearly three months of relentless operations, every occupied Indian post was recaptured. The victory was achieved without even crossing the Line of Control, as instructed by the government.

Their aim of the intruders, who had occupied Indian posts was to cut the link between Kashmir and Ladakh and force India into negotiations on the Kashmir dispute.&nbsp;

Kargil Vijay Diwas 2026: Remembering the spirit that defended a nation

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From Kargil to Op Sindoor: How 1999’s tactical lessons transformed India’s defence posture and border strategy

Kargil Vijay Diwas 2026: Remembering the spirit that defended a nation