10th Anniversary of Operation Vijay - The Kargil War - PVC Winners 26.7.2009

Today is the 16^th Anniversary of the The Kargil War between India  and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LOC). In India, the conflict is also referred to as Operation Vijay (Hindi: विजय, lit. "Victory") which was the name of the Indian operation to clear the Kargil sector of the enemy namely, Pakistani troops and Pakistan backed terrorists.

The cause of the war was the infiltration of Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri militants into positions on the Indian side of the LOC, which serves as the de facto border between the two states. During the initial stages of the war, Pakistan blamed the fighting entirely on independent Kashmiri insurgents, but documents left behind by casualties and later statements by Pakistan's Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff showed direct involvement of Pakistani military forces. The Indian Army, supported by the Indian Air Force, recaptured a majority of the positions on the Indian side of the LOC infiltrated by the Pakistani troops and militants. With international diplomatic pressure especially by the US President Bill Clinton, the Pakistani forces were compelled to withdrew from the remaining Indian positions along the LOC.

This cover was issued by the Army Postal Service on 26.7.2009 to commemorate the 10^th Anniversary of the Kargil War. The cover also honours the four brave soldiers who were awarded the Highest Indian Military Medal – The Param Vir Chakra. 

These four Great soldiers who were awarded the PVC by a then grateful nation were :-

Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav PVC. Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav of the 18 Grenadiers was part of the Commando 'Ghatak' (Deadly or Lethal) Platoon tasked to capture three strategic bunkers on Tiger Hill in the early morning hours of 4 July 1999. 

Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, PVC (25 June 1975, was an officer of the Indian Army of the regiment 1/11 Gorkha Rifles, posthumously awarded the India's highest military honour, for his audacious courage and leadership during adverse times. He died during the attack on Jubar Top, Khalubar Hills in Batalik Sector, Kargil.

Captain Vikram Batra, PVC was an officer of the13 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles of the Indian Army, posthumously awarded with the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest and prestigious award for valou.

Naib Subedar Sanjay Kumar, PVC is an Indian Army soldier, a Junior Commissioned Officer. Rifleman Sanjay Kumar volunteered to be the leading scout of the attacking column tasked to capture area Flat Top of Point 4875 in the Mushkoh Valley on 4 July 1999.

The Kargil War was won by India thanks to the Gallant men in uniform. However, some of the veterans of the Kargil and the many wars fought in the past are still not being paid their ONE RANK ONE PENSION by the powers that be. An ungrateful Government is sitting idly by, watching these hapless old solidiers on Hunger strike. 

They are now fighting the Battle of the OROP at a well known arena known as Jantar Mantar which overlooks the strategic Sansad Marg, in New Delhi.

The formidable enemy this time is not from across the border.

I only hope that the Government of India is not unduly shocked by the possible unexpected response by the Armed forces to any future natural emergency or serious incident on the borders by our hostile neighbours.