InPics: India Pays Respect to Martyrs of 1999 on 20th Vijay Diwas

Kargil Vijay Diwas: Here’s how India marked the 20th anniversary of a successful Operation Vijay, in photos.

Tri-services personnel pay homage at National War Memorial on the occasion of Kargil Diwas, in New Delhi.

(Photo: PTI/Atul Yadav)

India on Friday commemorated 20 years of its victory over arch-rival Pakistan in the Kargil War, saluting the supreme sacrifices and valour of the fallen heroes in recapturing several mountain heights seized by Pakistani intruders in Kashmir.

It was on July 26, 1999, Indian Army had declared successful culmination of 'Operation Vijay', declaring a victory after nearly three-month-long battles on the icy heights of Kargil. India had lost around 500 soldiers in the war.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the nation in paying tributes to the Kargil heroes, extolling the courage, bravery and dedication of the soldiers who were part of the operation.

Here’s how India marked the 20th anniversary of a successful Operation Vijay, in photos:

President Ram Nath Kovind salutes a memorial during Kargil Vijay Diwas, or Kargil Victory Day, at the war memorial in Srinagar, in Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday, 26 July 2019. (Photo: AP/Mukhtar Khan)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pays homage at National War Memorial on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, in New Delhi, Friday, 26 July 2019.(Photo: PTI/Atul Yadav)

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lays a wreath at National War Memorial on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas.(Photo: PTI/Atul Yadav)

President Ram Nath Kovind lays wreath at a war memorial in Srinagar.(Photo: PTI/S Irfan)

President Ram Nath Kovind arrives to pay homage to martyrs during Kargil Vijay Diwas, at a war memorial in Srinagar. (Photo: AP/Mukhtar Khan)

An Indian army soldier holds a wreath during a Kargil Vijay Diwas event, at the war memorial in Srinagar. (Photo: AP)

Tri-services personnel pay homage at National War Memorial on the occasion of Kargil Diwas, in New Delhi.(Photo: PTI/Atul Yadav)

Indian Army soldiers at the Kargil Vijay Diwas event where President Ram Nath Kovind paid homage to the 1999 martyrs.(Photo: AP/Mukhtar Khan)

A soldier lays wreath at the Kargil Vijay Diwas event at Srinagar war memorial.(Photo: AP/Mukhtar Khan)

Relatives of Indian Army soldiers, who were martyred during the Kargil Way, pay homage at Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, in Amritsar.(Photo: PTI)

An Indian army soldier gives a command during Kargil Vijay Diwas at the war memorial in Srinagar.(Photo: AP/Mukhtar Khan)

(With inputs from PTI and AP)