2016-07-04 Mon

July 04, 2016 marks the 17th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Tiger Hill in 1999. Fought between India and Pakistan, the war saw a decisive victory for the Indian side. It took place along the Line of Control (LoC). The operation was also known as Operation Vijay in India.

The cause of the Kargil War was the infiltration of Pakistan's soldiers along with Kashmiri militants into the Indian side of the LoC. The Indian Army, with the help of the Indian Air Force, recaptured most of the positions on the Indian side. International diplomatic opposition pressured Pakistan to recall their troops.

Pakistan looked to America for help in curbing the conflict. After studying the intelligence received, Bill Clinton refused to intervene till Pakistan withdrew troops from Indian positions. Nawaz Sharif agreed to pull back troops on July 04, 1999.

A number of regiments on the Indian side, including the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, participated in the war. Among them were 16 and 18 Grenadiers, 4 Jat, 3 Punjab, 10 and 18 Garhwal, the Border Security Force (BSF), Ladakh Scouts, and 9 and 5 Para Commandos.

While no commemorative stamps and coins have been issued to mark the Kargil War, numerous stamps were issued in honour of the regiments of the India Armed Forces over time.

1. The Indian Air Force

2. The Border Security Force

3. The Punjab Regiment

4. The Jat Regiment

5. The Sikh Regiment

6. The Mahar Regiment

7. The Artillery Regiment

8. The Kumaon Regiment

Mintage World salutes the brave heroes of the Kargil War.