Kargil : From Surprise To Victory


Book Description

The definitive account of the 1999 Kargil war - the strategy, the effects, the heroism - from the man in charge. In February 1999, Pakistani Army personnel, disguised as jehadi militants, infiltrated into mountainous Kargil and occupied key vantage points. Their intrusion triggered off a limited war between the world's newest nuclear states. It was a bitter battle, and one that throws up important lessons for India's defence preparedness, as also its responses to flare-ups such as this. This book is also a reminder of the unparalleled heroism that was on display during those grim weeks, heroism that has become a benchmark for bravery.




Kargil from Surprise to Victory


Book Description

An Incisive And Hard-Hitting Narrative That Reveals The Behind-The-Scenes Activities Affecting The Kargil War. In The Garb Of Jehadi Militants, Pakistan Army Personnel Infiltrated Into The Indian Territory Of Kargil And Triggered Off A Limited Conventional War Between The World S Newest Nuclear Weapon States.The Pakistan Army Achieved A Tactical Surprise But Failed At The Strategic Level. The Outbreak Of War In Kargil Also Revealed That Pakistani Political Leadership Was Out Of Synch With The Thinking And Planning Of Its Military Brass. The Author Seeks To Analyse The Reasoning Behind The Pakistani Army S Strategy And Tactics And Also Focuses On The People Responsible. This Volume Seeks To Answer Questions Such As: What Was The Rationale For India S Grand Strategy Of Restraint Despite Being A Victim Of Aggression? How Was The War Managed? How Were Battles Planned, And Executed, To Recapture The Strategically Important High Altitude Mountaintops?




Kargil-From Surprise TO Victory


Book Description

In February 1999, Pakistani Army personnel, disguised as jihadi militants, infiltrated into mountainous Kargil and occupied key vantage points. Their intrusion triggered a limited war between the world's newest nuclear states. It was a bitter battle, and one that threw up important lessons for India's defence preparedness, as also its responses to conflicts such as this. This incisive book by General V.P. Malik, former Chief of the Army Staff, analyses the reasoning behind the Pakistani Army's moves and tactics and reviews crucial issues such as the extent of intelligence and surveillance failure on the Indian side and the measures necessary to redress these failings. Away from questions of strategy and tactics, however, Kargil is also a reminder of the unalloyed heroism that was on display during those grim weeks, heroism that become a benchmark for valour.




Kargil: Turning the Tide


Book Description

Kargil: Turning the Tide, is a gripping account of the operations of 8 Mountain Division, which was tasked to evict the enemy from the Drass-Mushkoh Sector during Op Vijay. Coming from the pen of Lt Gen (then Maj Gen) Mohinder Puri, who led the division during the operations, the book is as authentic an account of the operations as one can hope to have. Written in a racy style, the book vividly captures the emotions and sentiments of a soldier; the apprehensions and fears of the leaders, and finally the joy and ecstasy of a hard won victory. The book, covering a wide spectrum from attacks at platoon level to issues impinging on national security, will be of immense value to all military professionals. Civilian readers will find the accounts of various close quarters, hand to hand battles fought in the extremely challenging and hostile environment of rugged high altitude terrain, inclement weather and an entrenched enemy, very engrossing and moving. A very high casualty count of 268 killed and 818 wounded, coupled with a rich haul of gallantry awards – three Param Vir Chakras, eight Mahavir Chakras, and 42 Vir Chakras – operations of 8 Mountain Division are a saga of fortitude, exceptional bravery, and exemplary junior leadership, which will undoubtedly swell any Indian’s heart with pride.




Surprise, Strategy and 'Vijay'


Book Description

Talks about the lesser known facts and accounts of the intrusions and the war from various commanders and officers, some of whom have also served during the conflict. The book has been divided into five parts. The first part titled, 'Blood, Guts and Glory,' briefly discusses the actual battles fought in Dras, Mushkoh, Batalik, Kaksar and Turtuk sub-sectors, to evict the Pakistani intruders from the dominating heights in the Kargil region. The aim was to restore the LoC to its originally held positions. The second part analyses the supporting forces which synergised the effort to victory, in the true spirit of 'Op Vijay'. In the third part, individual officers, associated with Kargil, have shared their perceptions and opinions about the Kargil conflict and the scenario after 20 years. The fourth part focuses on 'Motivation;' and reflects the saga of courage and valour of the Indian Armed Forces, and the junior leadership, during the summer of 1999. The fifth part, 'Emerging Challenges and the Way Ahead' looks at the emerging global-cum-regional scenario, the envisaged threats, our preparedness, and makes substantial recommendations to face the conflicts of the future. The forecasts provided by some of the most senior military officers of the country give a sneak peek into the emerging challenges of the future and India's preparatory responses to them. Given the emerging world order and the revolutionary changes in technology and character of conflicts, the book restates the fundamental focus of the Indian Armed forces: to be prepared to face the envisaged threats and challenges of the future.




Kargil


Book Description

Why does a group of stranded paratroopers call for Bofors' fire upon its own position? Why is an old man in Palampur fighting for justice for his dead soldier son? What makes a martyr's father visit a young Kashmiri girl every year? Kargil takes you into the treacherous mountains where some of Indian Army's bloodiest battles were fought. Interviewing war survivors and martyrs' families, Rachna Bisht Rawat tells stories of extraordinary human courage, of not just men in uniform but also those who loved them the most. With its gritty stories of incomparable bravery, Kargil is a tribute to the 527 young braves who gave up their lives for us-and the many who were ready to do it too.




Asymmetric Warfare in South Asia


Book Description

A unique account of military conflict under the shadow of nuclear escalation, with access to the soldiers and politicians involved.




Letters from Kargil


Book Description

In May 1999, India was invaded by Pakistan in Kargil, Ladakh, in a surprise attack. Diksha Dwivedi's father was one of the martyrs of that war. In this extremely moving book, she tells the story of the Kargil war through the letters and diaries of her father and other soldiers who fought there.




The Kargil Victory


Book Description

A comprehensive and accessible battle-by-battle account of the Kargil war by an Army officer who witnessed it. Early in May 1999, when word came from a shepherd searching for his strayed yak that some mysterious men in black clothes were clambering around on the frozen hilltops of Kargil, no one could have anticipated that it would be the precursor to a full-fledged armed conflict between India and Pakistan. Over the next several weeks, the Indian Army responded with courage, focus and immense professionalism to craft a comprehensive victory, recapturing all the posts that had been occupied by stealth by the Pakistani Army. This Himalayan showdown is brought alive in these pages through the words of a veteran Indian Army officer who was present throughout the conflict and, for the first time, recounts both his own experiences and the stories of the heroic soldiers who fought and won fierce battles from one peak to another. He narrates the individual and collective acts of bravery and the astute military strategies that won the war for India. Containing detailed maps, eye-witness accounts and photographs, The Kargil Victory is a thorough, inspiring and accessible book for all those who want to know the real story of the Kargil War.




From Kargil to the Coup


Book Description