Kargil War

Background
The 'Kargil War' was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan during May - July 1999 in the Kargil District of Kashmir and LOC(Line Of Control).The Conflict is also called 'Operation Vijay'


Cause
The cause of the war was the infiltration of Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri militants into positions on the Indian side of the LOC.During the initial stages of the war, Pakistan blamed the fighting entirely on independent Kashmiri insurgents, but documents left behind by casualities and later statements by Pakistan's PM and Army Chief  showed involvement of Pakistani paramilitary forces, led by General Ashraf Rashid.

Location
The town of Kargil is located 205 km (120 miles) from Srinagar.An Indian National Highway(NH1D) connecting Srinagar to Leh cuts through Kargil.

 

Events During May-July 1999

• Pakistani Intrusion in Kargil reported by Shepherds and Indian Patrols Sent.

• Ambushing of an Indian patrol team in the Batalik sector.

• Subsequent discovery of infiltration elsewhere along the LOC, and the difference in tactics employed by the infiltrators, caused the Indian army to realize that the plan of attack was on a much bigger scale.

• Indian Army moves in more troops from Kashmir Valley to Kargil Sector.

• IAF launches air strikes against infiltrators.

• Pakistan steps up attacks.

• Indian Army launches major offensive.

• India releases intercepts of conversation between Pakistani Army Chief (Pervez Mushraff) while on a visit to China and Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Aziz Khan in Rawalpindi, as proof of Pakistani Army’s involvement on June 11,1999.
• US President Bill Clinton, in a telephonic conversation, asks Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to pull out from Kargil(June 15,1999)

• Pakistan begins pullout(July 11,1999)

• Kargil conflict officially comes to an end(July 26,1999)

By the end of the war, India had resumed control of all territory south and east of the Line of Control, as was established in July 1972 as per the Simla Agreement.


World Opinion
Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif flew to meet U.S. President Bill Clinton on July 4 to obtain support from the United States. Clinton rebuked Sharif, however, and asked him to use his contacts to rein in the militants and withdraw Pakistani soldiers from Indian territory.
G8 Nations supported India and condemned the Pakistani violation of the LOC