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Journalism of Courage
Leaders across India’s political spectrum paid their tributes to India’s armed forces and the fallen martyrs on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Speaking at the Kargil War Memorial in Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh remembered the sacrifices of India’s soldiers and blamed Pakistan for the Kargil War.
“We know that as long as you are protecting us on the borders, no one can even have the courage to raise their eyes towards India. Not only Kargil, but many times since independence till today, your bravery has made the country proud from time to time,” he said in his speech.
“The Kargil war was imposed on India. At that time, India had tried to solve the issues with Pakistan through talks … we are backstabbed by Pakistan,” the minister said, adding that. “During Operation Vijay, the Indian Army sent a message not only to Pakistan but to the whole world that when it comes to our national interests, our Army will not back down at any cost.” the minister said.
The Kargil War officially ended on July 26, 1999, with the eviction of the last remaining Pakistani troops and infiltrators from positions on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC).
The conflict was triggered when infiltrators from Pakistan crossed the LoC and occupied high positions in Ladakh’s Kargil district. First reported to the Indian Army on May 3, the infiltrators were initially thought to be jihadis. But over the first few weeks, as the sheer scale of the invasion came to light, the role of the Pakistani state became undeniable.
Between mid-May and July, the Indian forces slowly recaptured critical positions from the Pakistanis, in the face of heavy casualties and numerous strategic and logistic difficulties, culminating with the Army announcing the complete withdrawal of all Pakistani regular and irregular troops from Kargil on July 26.
As per official figures, Indian casualties at the end of the War stood at 527 dead, 1,363 wounded and 1 PoW (Fl Lt K Nachiketa, whose MiG-27 was shot down during a strike operation).
Challenging conditions
The Kargil War posed multiple challenges to the Indian armed forces. On one hand, were the enemy infiltrators, well armed and supported by non-stop shelling by Pakistani artillery from across the border. On the other, were the conditions of Kargil itself.
As MP Acosta, a US Army officer, wrote in his dissertation “High Altitude Warfare: The Kargil Conflict and the Future” (2003), “The high altitude environment determined the nature of the conflict and shaped the conduct of the campaign.”
Kargil is located at the northern edge of the LoC, some 200 km northeast of Srinagar and 230 km west of Leh. While the town of Kargil is itself at an altitude of 2,676 m (8,780 ft), Dras lies at a height of 3,300 m (10,800 ft) and the surrounding peaks rise to altitudes of 4,800 m (16,000 ft) to 5,500 m (18,000 ft).
These are extremely high altitudes, which cause severe physiological effects on the human body while also posing logistical and strategic challenges.
“The combination of thin air, cold weather and rugged mountains has dramatic effects on men and their equipment.,” Acosta wrote.
First is the crippling cold. The Kargil battlefield lies in a cold desert with winter temperatures going as low as – 30 degrees Celsius. While the summers are more pleasant, chilly winds and the barren landscape still make the battlefield highly inhospitable. The cold impacts both the men and the machines – guns jam while their operators expend great amounts of energy to keep the body warm.
The high altitudes also pose the challenge of reduced Oxygen levels in the air, which causes a wide range of physiological effects and illnesses – some of which can even be fatal. The most common altitude related illness is acute mountain sickness, which leads to headaches, nausea, appetite loss, muscular weakness and general fatigue.
In addition to its effect on men, low air pressure alters the accuracy and performance of both weapons and aircraft. While lower air pressure increases the range of the projectiles fired, accuracy and predictability suffer. Aircraft engines typically produce less power and helicopters lose rotor efficiency.
Lastly, the terrain itself dictates military strategy and imposes significant restrictions on soldiers. The terrain reduces mobility, often provides cover to the enemy, and limits the scope of operations. During the Kargil War, the Indian Army was at a particular disadvantage with the enemy occupying high positions overlooking the positions held by Indians.
“Faced with a foe atop dominating heights [an army] may have no choice but to take the hill.” Acosta writes. That is what the Indian forces did. Against relentless enemy fire and unforgiving conditions, the Indian Army slowly, but certainly freed the peaks of Pakistani intruders.
The initial stages of the War taught some valuable lessons, as both the Army and the Air Force discovered that it was unprepared for such high-altitude combat at this scale. Many soldiers suffered from altitude sickness which even caused a few casualties. The lack of equipment for fighting in such cold weather was another challenge. On the other hand, the terrain and Pakistan’s constant shelling on the crucial NH 1A caused major logistical challenges.
Eventually, the Army modified its methods to overcome these challenges. Units initiated acclimatisation and training programs to better prepare the soldiers for the conditions. Better cold-weather equipment was procured (though the Army remained lacking in this regard throughout the War). Techniques for high-altitude assault were further honed. Instead of daytime frontal attacks, assaults increasingly featured small groups scaling near-vertical terrain.
“Most importantly, the Army coordinated overwhelming firepower with daring manoeuvres. Massive artillery fire preceded all attacks.,” Acosta wrote. With limitations of providing air cover to the ground forces due to the altitude and the terrain, the Army eventually leaned heavily on artillery, especially the controversial Bofors gun whose range nearly doubled in the thin air of Kargil.
India’s hard-fought victory in the Kargil War illustrated the timeless challenges posed by combat at high altitude – challenges which are as deadly, if not more, than the enemy itself.
