Pakistani Army admits involvement in 1999 Kargil War
- In Reports
- 10:36 PM, Sep 07, 2024
- Myind Staff
For the first time, the Pakistani Army has publicly acknowledged its direct involvement in the 1999 Kargil War against India. During an event in Rawalpindi commemorating Pakistan's Defence Day, Army Chief General Asim Munir stated that numerous soldiers had sacrificed their lives in the wars of 1965, 1971, and the Kargil conflict of 1999. This admission marks a significant moment in the military narrative of Pakistan concerning the Kargil War.
"Be it 1948, 1965, 1971, or the Kargil war of 1999, thousands of soldiers have sacrificed their lives for Pakistan and Islam," the Army chief said at the event.
The Pakistani Army has historically refrained from publicly acknowledging its direct involvement in the Kargil War, officially maintaining that the conflict was orchestrated by "mujahideen" or freedom fighters. This narrative has been upheld for years, with Pakistan distancing its military from direct engagement in the war.
Pakistan faced a significant defeat in the 1999 Kargil War, as Indian forces successfully reclaimed strategic positions occupied by infiltrators on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kargil sector, including the crucial Tiger Hill, after a nearly three-month-long battle in Ladakh. The situation also drew international attention, with then U.S. President Bill Clinton urging Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to order the withdrawal of Pakistani Army personnel from the Kargil sector.
India observes June 26th 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' to honour India's victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil War. A total of 545 Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives in an effort to push back the Pakistani intruders. India has consistently asserted that the operation was part of a broader strategy by Pakistan to strengthen its claim over Kashmir.
India has gathered substantial evidence of the Pakistani Army's involvement in the Kargil War, including prisoners of war, pay books, uniforms, and weapons belonging to Pakistani soldiers. After the conflict, the Indian Army buried numerous dead Pakistani soldiers in Kargil, as the Pakistani Army refused to officially accept the bodies of its soldiers killed in action. However, it was later revealed that Pakistani authorities had secretly requested the return of the bodies of officers who died during the war.
Image source: OpIndia
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