On the 26th anniversary of India's triumph in the 1999 Kargil War, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu laid a wreath at the Drass war memorial in Ladakh, paying homage to the brave soldiers who fought in the high-altitude conflict.

Beneath the towering peaks where Indian forces displayed unparalleled valor, Khandu called the Kargil victory a testament to courage and national unity. "From the freezing slopes of Drass to the grueling ascent of Tiger Hill, our soldiers battled for honor and the safety of every Indian," he shared in a series of poignant social media posts.

Reflecting on the 1999 Pakistani intrusions that sparked intense mountain warfare, Khandu praised the Indian Army's resolve. "Operation Vijay was more than a mission; it was a display of India’s unyielding spirit, with soldiers scaling treacherous peaks, clutching the tricolour," he posted on X.

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At the memorial, Khandu met Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla, leader of the esteemed Fire & Fury Corps. "Lt Gen Bhalla embodies the dedication of those who defended these heights and continue to do so," Khandu said, lauding the Corps for preserving a legacy of bravery.

Khandu concluded, "Our heroes’ sacrifices live on in our hearts. Jai Hind." Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed annually on July 26, commemorates Operation Vijay, which saw over 500 Indian soldiers sacrifice their lives to reclaim strategic peaks in Ladakh from Pakistani infiltrators.

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