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Reflecting on the 27th anniversary of the Kargil War, Brigadier (Retd.) Khushal Thakur, who commanded the 18 Grenadiers during the 1999 conflict, has described the Battle of Tololing as the toughest phase of 'Operation Vijay' and the definitive turning point that shifted the course of the war.
Speaking to ANI, the veteran officer recalled the onset of the 1999 conflict and mentioned that what initially seemed like a militant intrusion soon made clear that regular Pakistani troops were involved due to the intensity of the resistance. "I clearly remember reaching Dras after moving from Kashmir. After four or five days of intense fighting, I realised this was not a handful of militants. Pakistan had deployed troops from the Northern Light Infantry along with regular Army personnel. Their use of heavy weapons, including Stinger missiles that brought down several helicopters, made it evident that we were fighting a full-fledged military force," he recalled. Thakur described the assault on Tololing as a monumental challenge, involving a steep climb to 16,000 feet in temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius. He noted that his men carried nearly 25 kilograms of equipment each under constant enemy fire from fortified positions, often without adequate artillery cover or time to acclimatise. As the Commanding Officer of 18 Grenadiers, Thakur said enormous responsibility rested on his shoulders because the nation expected the Army to quickly recapture the strategic heights. "The Battle of Tololing became the turning point of the Kargil War. From Dras it appears close, but the reality was completely different. We had to climb steep, barren slopes at an altitude of nearly 16,000 feet in temperatures of minus 15 to minus 20 degrees Celsius. There was no cover, while the enemy occupied fortified positions equipped with machine guns, rocket launchers, mortars and Stinger missiles." He said the victory at Tololing fundamentally changed the course of the Kargil War. "In the beginning, the advantage was overwhelmingly with Pakistan because they occupied the heights and had prepared their positions well in advance. But after Tololing was recaptured, the morale of the Pakistani forces collapsed while the confidence of the Indian Army soared. From there, one peak after another was recaptured, ultimately leading to victory." The gallantry award winner noted that while the Indian Army has undergone a remarkable technological transformation since 1999, the core values of its personnel have not wavered. "The bravery, valour, and spirit of our soldiers that I witnessed during the Kargil War continue to exist even today. We recently saw that same spirit during Operation Sindoor. What has changed is technology, modernisation, infrastructure and self-reliance in equipment. Today's Army is far better equipped, but the courage remains unchanged," Thakur said. He paid tribute to fallen heroes who died during the assault, including Colonel Rajesh Adhikari, Subedar Randhir Singh, his radio operator Ram Kumar and Major M Saravanan Viswanathan, who died in his arms. He also highlighted the heroism of Param Vir Chakra awardee Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Yogendra Singh Yadav. "Yogendra Singh Yadav was only 19 years old. He volunteered to climb the near-vertical cliffs behind Tiger Hill as part of the Ghatak platoon. Almost his entire team was martyred. Despite suffering 15 bullet injuries, he continued fighting until the objective was secured. His courage remains one of the finest examples of battlefield heroism," he added. Sharing an emotional memory from the Tiger Hill operation, he spoke about the Army's ethos of never abandoning a comrade. He recounted an 11-day search to recover the mortal remains of a soldier who had fallen into a deep gorge during hand-to-hand combat. "Bringing him back gave me immense satisfaction because we fulfilled our promise that no soldier is ever left behind. Only then could I face his family with dignity," he said. Looking at the future of warfare, the retired Brigadier observed that battles have now moved into cyber and space domains, where technology is indispensable. He lauded the progress made under 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' in indigenous weaponry and surveillance. Concluding with an appeal to the nation's youth, he urged them to prioritise the country above all. "I would especially encourage young people to join the armed forces. If you work hard and prepare sincerely, nobody can stop you from becoming a soldier or an officer. Merit alone is enough," the Kargil hero stated. (ANI)
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