President Droupadi Murmu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday paid tributes to armed forces on the occasion of the Kargil Diwas.

In her salutations, President Murmu said the Kargil Vijay Diwas is an occasion to pay tributes to the courage and extraordinary valour of the country’s armed forces.

Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed on July 26 every year to mark India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1999 war.

The Indian Army had launched a fierce counter-assault to push back Pakistani forces that had stealthily occupied important heights in Ladakh.

“Kargil Vijay Diwas is an occasion for a grateful nation to pay tribute to the courage and extraordinary valour of our armed forces,” Murmu said in a social media post in Hindi.

“I pay tribute to each soldier who made the supreme sacrifice while protecting Mother India on the peaks of Kargil in 1999 and bow in reverence to their sacred memory. I am sure that all countrymen will draw inspiration from their sacrifice and valour. Jai Hind Jai Bharat!” she said. Rajnath said “Today, on the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, we remember the indomitable spirit and courage of the brave soldiers who fought valiantly in the 1999 war,” in a social media post.

“Their unwavering commitment, valour and patriotism ensured that our country remained safe and secure. Their service and sacrifice will continue to inspire every Indian and our coming generations,” he said. Home Minister Shah said Indian soldiers displayed the ultimate valour in the inaccessible hills of the Himalayas during the Kargil War and forced the enemy army to kneel.  Kargil Vijay Diwas is a symbol of the unwavering resolve of the valour of the brave soldiers of the Army, he said.

“During the Kargil War, the brave soldiers displayed the ultimate valour in the inaccessible hills of the Himalayas and forced the enemy army to kneel and made the country proud by hoisting the Tricolour again in Kargil,” Shah said in a social media post. The Home Minister said the grateful nation would never forget the sacrifice and dedication of the Indian soldiers. “Today, on Kargil Vijay Diwas, I salute the brave soldiers who protected the motherland with their courage in this war,” he said in the post in Hindi. Chief of Defence Staff(CDS)General Anil Chauhan and all ranks of the armed forces also recalled the supreme sacrifice of the “Bravehearts”.

“We draw inspiration from the heroes of Kargil, and we will continue to honour their legacy by defending our nation with courage, honour, and sacrifice,” the headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff said.

Various events were organised across the country, including at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras, to mark the occasion.

More than 500 soldiers made supreme sacrifice in the conflict.Jaishankar also paid tributes to the brave soldiers who defended the Nation’s territory during the conflict.”On Kargil Vijay Diwas, salute the valour and dedication of our brave soldiers. The legacy of their courage and patriotism acts as a guiding light for all Indians,” he said.

Parliament paid rich tributes and as a mark of respect for the soldiers who laid their lives in the war, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members stood in silence for a brief while.

In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla recalled the bravery shown by the soldiers despite the tough conditions during the war, and paid tributes to their efforts in ensuring unity of the country. Birla also expressed empathy for the relatives of the armed forces personnel who lost their lives in the war.

In the Upper House, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said a grateful Nation is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, cherishing the indomitable courage and valour displayed by the Indian armed forces during the Kargil war.