SRINAGAR: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan, three Service Chiefs, Gen VP Malik, and other high-ranking military officials will attend Kargil Vijay Diwas at Drass in the UT of Ladakh on July 26.
This occasion will also witness the presence of Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Brig (Retd) BD Mishra and Army Commander of Capt Vikram Batra’s unit, Army chief Gen Manoj Pande, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, and Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar.
Gen VP Malik and the Commander of Capt Vikram Batra regiment, who fought and attained martyrdom during the Kargil war, are also expected to be present at the Vijay Diwas celebrations.
Rajnath Singh will address the troops, interact with the Commanders, and pay tribute to the martyrs.
The Kargil war took place from May to July in 1999, during which the Indian Army fought Pakistani troops in the heights of Kargil, forcing them to retreat. Since then, July 26 is observed annually as Kargil Vijay Diwas by the Indian Army.
During the two-month-long war, over 500 Indian Army and Air Force personnel sacrificed their lives, while the casualties on the Pakistani side were also significant.
Next year, India will celebrate the silver jubilee of Kargil Vijay Diwas. Former President Ram Nath Kovind had previously visited Drass to pay tribute to the Army soldiers.
