Be alert, never trust your enemy: Gen Malik
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 25: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be in Drass tomorrow to attend Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations while Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande reached Drass and interacted with veterans, ‘Veer Naris’, gallantry award recipients and locals and conveyed his gratitude to them.
“Leaving New Delhi for Srinagar. Tomorrow, 26th July, I will be in Drass, Kargil to attend Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations. Looking forward to it,” Rajnath tweeted this afternoon.
On July 26, 1999, the Indian Army announced the successful culmination of “Operation Vijay”, declaring victory after a nearly three-month-long battle at the icy heights of Kargil, including super-high-altitude locations, such as Tololing and Tiger Hill pushing back all Pakistan army personnel and intruders.
“On the eve of #KargilVijayDiwas 2023, General Manoj Pande #COAS interacted with #Veterans, #VeerNaris, Gallantry Award Winners and Awam of #Dras and #Kargil and conveyed his gratitude. A mesmerising display of military bands and cultural performances showcasing the rich and diverse culture of #Ladakh was also showcased during the event. #IndianArmy,” the Army tweeted.
The Army has also been putting up posts on its social media handles to mark the 24th anniversary of the occasion.
The Kargil War saw soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces fight in the most challenging terrain under harsh weather conditions leading to the defeat of the enemy in Drass, Kargil and Batalik sectors.
On this occasion, a briefing was conducted today at Lamochen (Drass).
The event commenced with an audio-visual narration of the battles which showcased the Kargil War as it unfolded. The vivid narrations, in the backdrop of the very mountains where the fierce battles were fought, recreated scenes of each battle and the venue reverberated with tales of bravery and sacrifice of our soldiers.
Meanwhile, Gen Ved Prakash Malik, who was Army chief at the time of Kargil war said: “Be alert and never trust your enemy, be it Pakistan or China.”
This was his message to the armed forces standing guard at the icy heights in Ladakh.
Gen Malik exuded confidence that if a war situation arises today, India is better prepared than it was during Kargil.
He said his biggest take away from the Kargil war is that the enemy cannot be trusted even if there is “political show” of friendship.
For Gen Malik, it was a case of once bitten twice shy, as he recalled the Lahore Declaration that was signed between India and Pakistan in February 1999 and ratified by the Parliaments of both countries under which they had an added responsibility towards avoiding nuclear race, as well as both non-conventional and conventional conflicts.
“Never trust your enemy, even if there is a political show of friendship like signing of agreements. This happened before the Kargil war too, the two countries had just signed an agreement (Lahore Declaration) and we were taken by surprise,” Gen Malik said on the sidelines of a function in Drass.
“Within a couple of months, they intruded our territory, not with Mujahideen or jihadis, but with Pakistan army,” he added.
He said the “forces should remain alert — be it China or Pakistan” and there is no room for complacency even if any country is showing or displaying “friendship politically”.
“Ceasefire or no ceasefire, I have seen ceasefire broken so many times. So, it does not matter, we have to remain alert on the LAC or the LoC,” Gen Malik added.
He said the Kargil war is proof that the Indian Army has the capability and capacity to chase the enemy out even if they were caught by surprise.
“If a war situation arises today, we are ready to fight, we are far more equipped and better prepared. The human resources are as good today as they were 24 years back but the capabilities today have improved a lot compared.
“The armed forces have transformed. We have better equipment, better surveillance, we are prepared to face the challenge,” Gen Malik said.
He recalled the situation during 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan and said the challenges were not limited to terrain and weather but on the equipment part too. “However, today we are much better off,” he said.
“During Kargil it was different, initially we suffered a lot of casualties because, more because we did not have adequate information and once we got to know more details, we were able to push the Pakistani regular army disguised as raiders from the heights of Kargil.
“…Tololing battle was the first turning point, that was when I got reassured that we will be able to sail through”.
The Tololing peak was captured by the 2nd Rajputana Rifles of the Army in June. This was a crucial victory as the peak overlooked the Srinagar-Leh Highway, the main road through which supplies and reinforcement was sent to Kargil and Leh.
Gen Malik was here at Lochamen view point in Drass at an event where war heroes and families of fallen soldiers remembered the brave souls.
Malik’s words were echoed by many Kargil war veterans who said while the ceasefire was a good thing to happen, it is Pakistan’s habit to violate it.
Brigadier (Retd) Khushal Thakur, who was Commanding Officer of 18 Grenadiers and had led numerous operations with his battalion including the victory on Tiger Hill, said “Ceasefire depends on both the sides as to how long they will hold it. But, Pakistan has always betrayed… Indian Army is capable. Now, there is Pakistan on the LoC and China on the LAC, but India is ready to deal with both.”
Honorary Captain of the Ladakh Scouts, Cheering Stopdan, who also took part in the war, said there should not be any negligence on India’s part due to the ceasefire.
“When it snows in the winter, the Army comes down. The enemy sees that and goes up. It should not happen. We should not lose what we captured in the war. That is very important,” he said.
Brigadier (Retd) O P Yadav, who was a Colonel during the war, said India is now in a far better and dominating position than Pakistan. “Things have improved because the entire Division has come, they are very well and there on ground. The surveillance capabilities have increased, the communication facilities have increased, fire power has increased.”
The Kargil War saw soldiers of Indian Armed Forces fight in the most challenging terrain under harsh weather conditions leading to the defeat of the enemy in Drass, Kargil and Batalik sectors.
Meanwhile, the narrations of battle followed by reminiscences of actions by the war heroes themselves, brought to life the bravery, indomitable spirit and everlasting zeal of our braves.
The event was graced by the presence of the War Heroes and Veer Naris, Veer Matas and relatives of the gallant soldiers who laid down their lives during the war.
With eyes moist but heart full of pride, the families of soldiers who died in the Kargil war remembered the bravehearts on Tuesday, recalling their sacrifices while fighting Pakistani army personnel disguised as raiders.
“He did not die… He became immortal. I cannot forget the scene at our house in Lucknow when his body draped in the tricolour arrived. At least 15 lakh people joined the convoy shouting Manoj Pandey ‘Amar Rahe’ (immortal),” says Manmohan Pandey, brother of the fallen Captain Pandey.
His quote “Some goals are so worthy, it’s glorious even to fail” went on to become famous.
“Imagine, mothers were getting their children and even infants to touch his feet… The scenes from that day are etched in our memory and that day I realised how one becomes immortal,” Manmohan said.
Lt Pandey, posthumously promoted as Captain, was awarded Param Vir Chakra, country’s highest military honour for his exemplary work in the Batalik sector.
“I even flip through his personal diary today which begins with a quote of Mehmood Rampuri’s quote ‘Maut usiki jiska zamana kare afsos varna marne ke liye to sabhi aate hain’ (death compliments only those who leave nation weeping, otherwise everyone comes here to die). My eyes are filled with tears even now,” Manmohan said.
He plans to take his children to Batallik this time, he said.
“These words comforted us that he was always desperate for this chance, he always had it in him and we are nothing but proud,” he said while quoting another one liner of his brother “If death strikes before I prove my blood, I swear, I will kill death!”
For Charulata Acharya, wife of Major Padmapani Acharya, it’s a pilgrimage to visit Drass.
“For me and for families of war heroes, the visit to the Veer Bhoomi is an annual pilgrimage. What can be more proud that the entire nation remembers our family members fondly.
“The fact that I am not remembering him alone, fills me with both nostalgia and pride,” Charulata, who was pregnant with Aparijita, their daughter when her husband died in 1999, said.
Major Acharya, awarded with Maha Vir Chakra posthumously, laid down his life during the famous battle of Tololing.
The last letter to his father Wg Cdr Jagannath Acharya (Retd) read “Combat is an honor of a lifetime and I would not think of anything less. What better way to serve the nation.”
He requested his father to tell “a story a day from the Mahabharata to Charu so that your grandchild imbibes good values.”
Honorary Flying officer Thogiram Gogoi, father of Captain Jintu Gogoi, said “For a soldier, the chance to go to war and fight for a country, is bigger than any medal.
“Whenever we used to be worried for him he always used to say that there are so many soldiers who retire from the services waiting for this chance and he has got this chance. After 24 years, we are glad that he got this chance, that is bigger than all the medals that he has got.”
Gogoi was recalled from leave to join his unit just 12 days after his engagement.
On the intervening night of June 29/30, 1999 during “Operation Vijay”, Captain Gogoi was tasked with evicting the enemy from ridge line Kala Pathar near the Line of control in Jubar Hill area of Batalik sub-sector.
He led the troops in the face of heavy enemy fire and reached the top by first light but only to be surrounded by an enemy who asked him to surrender.
He chose to fight with valour and dignity and opened fire on the enemy, killing two enemy soldiers before making the supreme sacrifice of his life. But, before this action, he made sure that his group had taken cover for safety.
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