India commemorates 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas at Dras memorial

India marked the 27th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26, 2026, with national leaders and citizens paying tribute to the soldiers who fought and died in the 1999 Kargil War. The main commemorative ceremony was held at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras, Ladakh, where officials honored the courage and sacrifice that led to India's military victory.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the nation in homage. In statements, President Murmu said the nation would remain forever indebted to the warriors whose valor stands as an exemplary model of the army's traditions. Prime Minister Modi stated that the soldiers' bravery in the face of formidable conditions remains a source of national pride, while Defence Minister Singh, who attended the ceremony in Dras, reaffirmed the armed forces' preparedness to safeguard India's security.

The day commemorates Operation Vijay, which culminated on July 26, 1999, when India declared it had successfully reclaimed strategic mountain peaks in the Kargil sector that had been occupied by Pakistani soldiers and infiltrators earlier that May. The conflict, fought over nearly three months at...