18th Kargil Vijay Diwas: 10 things you should know about the success of Operation Vijay

India is celebrating 18th Kargil Vijay Diwas on Wednesday. On this day Indian Armed Forces declared victory over Pakistani troops and militants in the Kargil war on 26 July, 1999.. 

Kargil Vijay Diwas is named after the success of Operation Vijay. Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated on 26 July every year in honour of the Kargil War's Heroes. This day is celebrated in the Kargil - Dras sector and the national capital New Delhi, where the Prime Minister of India, pays homage to the soldiers at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate every year. Functions are also organized all over the country to commemorate the contribution of the Armed forces.

Here are 10 facts about this day:

1. On 26 July, 1999. It was 60 day long war resulting loss of lives on both sides and resulted in India gaining the reign over the Kargil sector.

2. The Kargil war was fought in 1999 between India and Pakistan in Kargil, Ladakh which was initially Baltistan district, separated by the LOC after the first Kashmir war.

3. Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government was in power at the time of this war.

4. India launched 'Operation Vijay' to clear the Kargil sector of infiltration by Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri militants on the Indian side of the Line of Control.

See pics: In Pics | Kargil Vijay Diwas 2017: What was Kargil War and why it was fought?

5. The war took place despite the two nations signing the Shimla Agreement that stated that no armed conflict shall take place on the said boundary.

6. Safed Sagar, the Indian Air Force's operation, was a major part of the Kargil war. It used air power at the height of 32,000 feet for the first time. 

7. The operation was officially declared closed on July 26, 1999 by PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

8. India lost more than 500 military men on the Kargil territory while reports from Pakistan claimed that more than 3000 of their soldiers, mujahideens and infiltrates died.

9. Kargil is one of the most recent and infamous examples of high-altitude warfare i.e wars that are fought on mountainous terrain.

10. It was also the first war between the two countries widely covered in the media.