KARGIL WAR
Kargil Calendar
MAY 8-15
Army patrols detect intruders atop Kargil ridges. Army errs in saying 100
infiltrators are occupying 25 km of Indian territory. Then realises Pak plan to cut Leh
from Srinagar by taking highway.
MAY 26
Army acknowledges that 600-800 Pak infiltrators are lodged in remote
Kargil-Drass-Batalik sectors. India surprises the foe, ups ante with air strikes.
MAY 27
Disaster. MiG-27 flames out and Fl-Lt K. Nachiketa is taken POW by Pakistan. MiG-21
on a rescue mission hovers over LoC, shot down. Sqn Ldr Ajay Ahuja is killed in action.
Srinagar airport closed.
MAY 28
Mi-17 helicopter shot down. Four-man crew dead. IAF withdraws choppers. Fernandes
goofs up, says Sharif and ISI have no hand in Kargil operations.
MAY 31
Vajpayee says it's a "war-like situation" in Kargil. As casualties mount,
army halts suicidal missions and says its wants time for a proper build-up.
JUNE 1
Fernandes creates a controversy by offering "safe passage" to intruders.
Diplomatic efforts begin. France, US hold Pakistan responsible for intrusions in Kashmir
and ask it to respect the LoC. Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh ban PTV. This is a precursor to a
nationwide ban.
JUNE 3
Pakistan hands over PoW Nachiketa to India in "goodwill gesture".
JUNE 6
Troops and logistics buildup sufficiently achieved. Army launches major offensives
in Kargil and Drass sectors. These are accompanied by air strikes. The idea is to keep the
crucial Srinagar-Leh highway free from any Pakistani threat.
JUNE 10
Pakistan returns mutilated bodies of six soldiers of Jat Regiment. India enraged.
JUNE 12
Deadlock at first crisis-time meeting between foreign ministers Jaswant Singh and
Sartaj Aziz in Delhi. Aziz firmly told intruders will have to go.
JUNE 13
Army captures crucial Tololing peak. War's turning point. Vajpayee visits Kargil
amid heavy shelling.
JUNE 15
Clinton urges Sharif to pull out from Kargil, praises India's restraint. Jaswant
briefs Chinese leaders.
JUNE 17-18
Brajesh Mishra goes to Geneva to meet G-8 leaders, gives Vajpayee's letter to
Clinton aide. Letter warns patience wearing thin. US promises action in "days, not
weeks".
JUNE 20
Troops capture Point 5140, complete Tololing victory. G-8 wants intrusions to end.
JUNE 23-27
US General Zinni visits Islamabad. Urges Sharif to retreat. White House envoy in
Delhi.
JUNE 28
Diplomatic noose tightens. Sharif dashes to China for support but gets no
favourable response. Cuts short visit, goes home.
JULY 4
Army recaptures Tiger Hill from intruders. Sharif meets Clinton in Washington. Is
told to pull out intruders immediately and get back to talks. Appears to agree. Joint
statement issued.
JULY 11
Pakistani infiltrators begin retreating from Kargil. India recaptures key peaks at
Batalik, sets deadline of July 16 for total withdrawal.
JULY 12
Sharif makes televised address explaining pullout and proposes talks with Vajpayee.
JULY 14
Vajpayee declares Operation Vijay a success. Government sets conditions for talks
with Pakistan. Wants it to recognise the LoC as sacrosanct and stop cross-border terrorism
at once.
Photofeature:
Images from Kargil |
