THE KARGIL WAR
|
The terrain in Kargil Sector, where Pakistan, in line with her earlier military defeats, once again received a `Bloody Nose’, is rugged, glaciated and extremely inhospitable. The heights in the area range between 12000 to 18000 feet. During winters, the area gets a very heavy snow fall, which totally impedes movement. |
|
Due to the existing terrain configuration, certain areas along Line of Control were not held by both sides since the delineation of Line of Control on 11 December 1972.
AREAS OF INTRUSION
|
Taking advantage of the gaps, Pakistan Army intruded into Batalik, Kaksar, Dras and Muskoh areas. The intrusions were timed before the opening of Zojila Pass, which remains closed due to very heavy snowfall from mid November to early June every year. This year, however, the pass opened earlier i.e., on 10 May 1999. |
|
PAKISTANS' OVERALL NEFARIOUS DESIGNS
The humiliating defeat of Pakistan in 1971 and its resultant dismemberment has always irked the Pakistan Troika, which has, therefore, been on the lookout to avenge its defeat.
|
The insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir was accordingly initiated by Pakistan as part of Operation ‘Topac’ which was conceived by Late General Zia - Ul - Haq in the mid 80’s. The aim of this operation was to annex the state of Jammu and Kashmir through a ‘proxy war’ by infiltrating militants to foment trouble in the State under the garb of so called ‘Jehad’, take militancy to an uncontrollable level and at an opportune moment, strike with Regulars, if necessary, to finally integrate Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan. |
Operation `Topac' was named after Topac Amru, an Inca Prince who fought an unconventional war during the 18 century in Uruguay |
As is well known, this operation was effectively foiled in the initial stages itself. This was achieved through a well orchestrated and synergised effort by our Security Forces. Consequently, the militancy lost its steam on account of heavy attrition inflicted on various militant outfits. Since 1990, 8253 militants were killed and 23,357 weapons recovered. In 1999 alone, 464 militants have been killed and 798 weapons recovered from them.
In a desperate bid to revitalise militancy and boost the sagging morale of the militants, Pakistan decided to undertake another ‘misadventure’ in Jammu & Kashmir. The area selected was to afford certain strategic advantages as well.
Pakistan’s Military Aims
The military aims of the Pakistan Army’s in Kargil were to ~
In achieving the above aims, Pakistan Army had planned to exploit the trans Line of Control, ethno-sectarian and religious affiliations. This, however, could not be achieved due to the nationalistic stance of the locals and timely detection of the game plan. Pakistan’s sinister designs in Turtok have been covered Subsequently.
Political Mileage from the Military Venture
At the political level, Pakistan had planned to exploit the situation that was to arise consequent to the accomplishment of military aims, for internationalising the Kashmir issue and facilitating negotiations from a position of strength.
SALIENT FEATURES OF OPERATIONS BY PAKISTAN ARMY
Surreptitious Buildup by Pakistan Army
|
The entire operation was conceptualised and planned, in complete secrecy and, therefore, details of the operational plan were disseminated on strictly ‘need to know basis’. Initially, the plan was kept confined to the Pakistan Chief of Army Staff, Chief of General Staff, Director General of Military Operations, General Officer Commanding 10 Corps and General Officer Commanding FCNA (Force Commander Northern Areas). Even during the execution, troops were not kept informed of the exact motive and methodology of operations. |
".... I was ordered to cross the Line of Control and climb some mountains that the Indians controlled. My Commanding Officer would not allow me to take my AK 47 Rifle. ... We were told it was for the sake of secrecy". Excerpt from the first person account of a Pakistan Army soldier from an article titled `in Time Magazine |
|
The occupation of intrusions areas by Pakistan Army soldiers, supported by the Special Service Group (SSG) personnel, Chitral and Bajaur Scouts was undertaken during April - May 1999. |
|
|
To speed up the operations, Helicopters, Snow Mobiles and Animal Transport were extensively employed. To enable optimum utilisation of helicopters, forward helipads were constructed by the Pakistan Army very close to the Line of Control in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) |
|
Measures Instituted to Conceal the Involvement of Pakistan Army
|
Imposition of Army Rule in Northern Areas ~ The ‘Northern Areas’, that encompassed the area of operations, were placed under the Army Rule. This was done to isolate the area and deny access to the international and national media besides, facilitating optimal exploitation of local resources. |
|
|
Stripping of Army Uniforms and Accoutrements ~ The Pakistan Army soldiers were ordered to undertake all operations in local tribal attire so as to depict them as the so called ‘Mujahideens’. The traditional ‘oval’ and ‘round’ identity discs worn by the soldiers all over the world in the battlefield, were also disallowed. However, despite these restrictions, a number of Pakistan Army soldiers carried their uniforms and identity documents with them, some of which were captured by us. |
|
Employment of Northern Light Infantry Battalions ~ To ensure that the details of the operations remained confined to the inhabitants of the underdeveloped ‘Northern Areas’, troops of Northern Light Infantry (NLI) were employed. These battalions, besides the capabilities of an infantry battalion, also specialise in commando operations, snow
|
warfare and anti-heliborne operations. These battalions have 85% of their troops from Gilgit and Baltistan regions and their ethnic composition is predominantly Shias. These battalions have been racially discriminated by the Punjabi dominated Pakistan Army. The employment of NLI battalions was also done to ensure that backlash from the misadventure, if any, remains confined to Northern areas. |
|
Relevant details pertaining to the Northern Light Infantry (NLI) are given Subsequently.
Did these soldiers know that they were being
made the ‘Sacrificial Goats’ and being used as
‘Cannon Fodder’ ?
Withdrawal of Identity Documents
|
Alarmed by the documentary evidence furnished by the Indian Army to substantiate the irrefutable involvement of their Regulars, Pakistan Army, in the third week of June 1999, passed strict instructions banning carriage of any identity documents by their soldiers. |
|
A belated response !
Disowning the Dead Bodies ~
|
Flouting all military norms and traditions, the Pakistan Army Authorities refused to even accept the dead bodies of their fallen soldiers. This was done in a desperate bid to give credence to their stance that the intrusions were the handiwork of the so called ‘Mujahideens’ and not of the Pakistan Army Regulars. The NLI troops were apparently treated as `Cannon Fodder’ and made `Sacrificial Goats’ in the Kargil misadventure. |
|
Can an Army degenerate to this dismal level of
disowning its fallen soldiers?
Could a soldier ever imagine this fate ?
Will these soldiers of Northern light Infantry be ever able to
regain their pride and swagger ?
Pakistan’s Sinister Designs in Turtok
|
Interrogation of the arrested militants from the area of operations revealed that Pakistan had also planned to execute an operation in the general area of Turtok aimed at grabbing these areas and merging them with their ‘Northern Areas’. This operation was planned in four phases as under : - |
|
|
|
|
Causalities Inflicted on Pakistan Army
It has been assessed from reliable reports that Pakistan Army has suffered total 725 Causalities , which includes 45 officers and 68 SSG Personnel.
Details of Major Recoveries
|
Details of major recoveries of weapons, ammunition and equipment are given Subsequently. |
|
Once again, the Pakistan Army has been given a
‘Bloody Nose’ !
PAKISTAN’S DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN
Facade of Jehad
To conceal the employment of Pakistan Army Regulars, Pakistan Authorities continued to harp on their stated stance that the intrusions had been undertaken by the so called ‘Mujahideens’.
After some time, such contentions fell on deaf ears! The World saw through the nefarious designs of Pakistan !
Rhetoric to Undermine the Sanctity of the Line of Control
Pakistan’s declarations that the Line of Control was not delineated, lacked substance and was accordingly proved wrong. The Line of Control was delineated under the
|
provisions of the Shimla Agreement of 02 Jul 1972. It was effected during nine meetings, alternately held at Suchetgarh in India and Wage border post in Pakistan from 10 August to 11 December 1972. The Indian delegation was led by Lt Gen PS Bharat, PVSM, VC and the Pakistan delegation was led by Lt Gen Abdul Hammed Khan, S Pk, SQA |
|
The Line of Control was reproduced on two sets of maps prepared by each side, each set consisting of 27 map sheets formed into 19 mosaics. Each individual mosaic of all four sets of maps with the Line of Control marked on them was signed by the representatives of the Chiefs of Army Staff of India and Pakistan and each side has exchanged one set of signed mosaics as required under the joint statement by the representatives of the Govt of India and Pakistan , signed at Delhi on 29 August 1972.
|
Pakistan’s contention regarding the Line of Control was also proved wrong with the capture of a Pakistani map, which had the Line of Control printed on it as per the mutually ratified mosaics. Relevant details regarding the delineation of the Line of Control are given Subsequently. |
|
PAKISTAN ARMY’S INVOLVEMENT
Prisoners of War
|
Naik Inayat Ali of 5th Battalion of The Northern Light Infantry, was taken prisoner on 02 July 1999 in Batalik Sector. He voluntarily gave out the deployment of his battalion. As per him, the battalion had a company each at Khalubar, Jubar, Tharu and Point 4100. The battalion tactical Headquarter and administrative base was located at Muntho Dhalo. |
|
|
Sepoy Humar Shah of 5 NLI was also taken prisoner in Batalik Sector. He was wounded in the right knee and found abandoned by his colleagues from a Nala. He was totally dehydrated and had not had food for five days. Our doctors were moved to the place of capture to give him necessary medical aid and save him. He is presently convalescing in an Indian Army Hospital. |
|
Did they finally spill the beans ?
Recovery of Dead Bodies of Pakistan Army Regulars
|
The Indian Army recovered 249 dead bodies from the areas of operations. 197 dead bodies were given burial as per military norms and as per religious rites, 47 dead bodies that were found in shallow trenches were also provided religious rites and five bodies were accepted by Pakistan. This included the dead body of Captain Karnal Sher of 12 NLI Battalion. The ceremonial burial accorded to the dead body of this NLI officer was also covered by the Pakistan television and seen all over the world. |
|
Documents
|
A plethora of documents have been recovered from various positions occupied by the enemy. These include Identity Cards issued by the Government of Pakistan, Pay books of Soldiers, Leave certificates, private correspondence etc. Some of these are given Subsequently. |
|
|
Tactics Employed, Use of Heavy Weaponry, Equipment including Helicopters and Logistics Support
The tactics employed, heavy weaponry and equipment used including the helicopters coupled with the dedicated logistics support, established beyond the shadow of any doubt that the operations had been undertaken by the Pakistan Army Regulars and not by the so called ‘Mujahideens’.
The Mercenaries / Militants are not known to fight pitched defensive battles and launch counter attacks !
They are also not known to lay minefields, employ heavier weapons viz, Artillery Guns, KPVTs etc and use helicopters in support of their operations !
Statement by the Erstwhile Pakistan COAS
General Aslam Beg, the erstwhile Pakistan Chief of Army Staff, in an article titled ‘Kargil – The Drop Scene’ published in ‘The Nation’ dated 13 July 1999, acknowledged that Pakistan Army had suffered more than 40 officers killed in the last two months. As per reliable sources, Pakistan Army has suffered 45 officers killed and the details of these officers are also given Subsequently.
Conversation Between Pakistan COAS and CGS
In two separate telephonic conversations between the Pakistan Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of General Staff, while the former was visiting China, they discussed the intrusions and willy nilly highlighted that the entire operation in Kargil was masterminded at the highest level and conducted by Pakistan Army Regulars.
PAKISTAN’S MISADVENTURE – END STATE
At the National level, Pakistan is totally exposed and ostensibly isolated. This defeat has generated dissensions between the Pakistan Government, antagonist sections of the population and various militant outfits, who have been averse to the withdrawal dictated by the ‘Indian Military Might’.
At the Military level, this fourth successive humiliating defeat has demoralised the Pakistan Armed Forces, who feel let down by their top brass. The internal dissensions in the rank and file of the Northern Light Infantry battalions owing to the step-motherly treatment meted out to them, is likely to generate serious disciplinary problems for the Pakistan Army.
Despite successive humiliations, Why Do They Do It?
Source:
Ministry of Defence
