Emotional meeting for families of Kargil martyrs

Drass, July 26 (PTI) Teary eyed but proud family
members of the martyrs who laid down their lives on the icy
heights of Kargil ten years ago Sunday came together during a
visit to the area where their loved ones made supreme
sacrifices.

On July 26, 1999 the Indian armed forces broke the
back of a Pakistani misadventure in the forbidden heights of
Batalik, Kargil and Drass sectors after a 59-day war.

It was an emotional reunion of sorts for the families
of the war heroes who had come from all over the Indian
sub-continent at the invitation of the armed forces to attend
the Kargil Vijay Diwas at the War Memorial in Drass.

Recalling their loved ones, their families pledged
that they would send more members to join the armed forces.

Proud relatives moved around the War Memorial and got
an account of what happened 10 years ago from the personnel of
the forces, colleagues and friends of their sons, brothers and
husbands who laid their lives on the way to victory in the
war.

Recalling the war, former chief of staff, General V P
Malik said he was reminded of the determination which showed
on the faces (of the war heroes) and they proved it on the
ground.

"Everytime, I came and was always impressed...It
showed that yes, we can do it," Malik said.

"There is no question of not fighting a war of this
kind if an initiative is taken by any of our enemies," he
said.

In the war, 610 officers and men, including five Air
Force personnel and two civilians, laid down their lives.

The war, fought on what is often termed as one of the
highest battlefields in the world, brought the people together
as never before and the nation emerged stronger.

Recalling the battle, Major Sachin (18 Grenadiers) who
was visiting the place for the first time after the war, said
that it has given an opportunity to relive his memories - some
good, some bad and nostalgia.

He said his battalion was tasked with an important
objective of Tiger Hill and were happy that they were able to
capture it.

The Major said that at the same time, he felt sad that
a number of his comrades, including some of his good friends,
lost their lives.

Air Vice Marshal J Chauhan recalled the role of the
Air Force, saying there was a requirement of carrying out a
reconnaisance of the hostile locations in close conjuction
with the army so that brave soldiers could go and occupy them.

Recalling that the terrain was tough and the heights
of the targets were so high that they had to operate from
30,000 feet, Chauhan said no Air Force in the world has done
this.

He said they had to work on the ways and means of how
to achieve those impossible targets as they were not allowed
to cross the LoC and carrying out attacks was really
difficult. PTI AMI
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