Kargil war memorial relived its history of 25 years and the task of anchoring the narration was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After paying homage to warriors of 1999 who climbed the barren mountains and evicted Pakistani soldiers from the bunkers and other points, Modi, in his inimitable style which was heard all across the country and also by those who had undertaken misadventure a quarter of century ago.
Prime Minister’s speech in more than one ways at Drass ‘Kargil War memorial relived the memories of the years gone by since 1999 and unveiled a futuristic outlook for Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, two critically important union territories of the country. These two UTs define India’s national security both internally and externally. China and Pakistan are on the borderlines. Pakistan did its misadventure in 1999, while China attempted in May 2020. Both were tough situations, in which India’s pride and sovereignty were challenged.

NEWS ANALYSIS

In 1999, Pakistan had thought that it has won the war much before it exchanged first bullet with the Indian troops. It had occupied the heights on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) and had taken full view control of National Highway 1 that was lifeline for the Indian troops to the whole of Ladakh region, including Siachen glacier, known as highest battleground of the world. Pakistan” then army chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf had undertaken this Himalayan misadventure in the belief that the Indian army had no way to evict his soldiers from the heights they had occupied. He was sure that India would succumb to this blackmail and talk of Kashmir and accept Pakistani terms.
General Musharraf had committed a cardinal blunder, underestimated the will and fighting spirit of the Indian army. That became his undoing. Pakistan lost the war in disgrace, it was evicted from the critically important heights by the brave Indian soldiers who made supreme sacrifices to get every inch of their land back from the occupiers.
Prime Minister Modi in his tribute-paying speech at Kargil War Memorial, spotlighted this spirit. “It was much more than the weaponry used in the war that made victory possible. More than that was the spirit to do and die for the nation that guided soldiers. Prime Minister bridged the gap of that era and now – covering each and every detail with emotions and the undying spirit of sacrifice for the nation.
As was natural, Pakistan did figure in the opening part of his speech, which will go down in the history as epic, as he cautioned Pakistan against any repeat of any such misadventure. He was telling the western neighbor that had it not sabotaged the peace-making initiative of India in February 199, when Vajpayee took a bus to Lahore to see common ground for peace, things would have been different. “Pakistan sabotaged peace efforts, and brought a catastrophe on itself. Pakistan suffered a crushing defeat, and also faced an international embarrassment. In fact, Pakistan has not been able to stabilize itself till date.
At a larger scale, Modi made Kargil war memorial a platform to convey to the world that no country, howsoever big or powerful, should dare to question Indian sovereignty and integrity. Pakistan’s example is before them. Today Pakistan is playing the same double game – exporting terrorism to Jammu and Kashmir and beseeching for talks with India .It means , as PM put it, ” Pakistan has learnt no lesson.’
Prime Minister brought August 5, 2029 decision of abrogation of Article 370 in the speech. It had more than one meaning. Kargil happened when militancy in Kashmir was at its peak, people were dying by dozens at the hands of terrorists. Pakistan was so emboldened that it took over the Indian posts, vacated during winter as per mutual agreement to keep the troops in less inhospitable conditions during the severe winters when there was a danger of losing lives to extreme weather conditions. It was not Kargil in isolation. Pakistan drew its misplaced confidence from the rising graph o militancy in Kashmir. It had perhaps calculated that Kashmir would rise in its favour, but that did not happen. Article 370 had become a basis for militancy, because it kept many options open for the sympathizers of militancy. Pakistan’s game failed and it suffered crushing defeat. It suffered multiple defeats, but it learnt no lesson. Prime Minister said in plain words that Pakistan must mend ways or it will be in for more troubles given its courtship with export of terrorism to India.