Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 26 July paid solemn tribute to the soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces on Kargil Vijay Diwas, marking the 27th anniversary of India's victory in the 1999 Kargil War. The day honours the 527 soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during Operation Vijay and recognises the extraordinary valour of thousands who fought under some of the harshest battlefield conditions in the world.

PM Modi's Tribute

Modi posted on social media platform X: 'On Kargil Vijay Diwas, our nation expresses gratitude to the brave soldiers for their extraordinary courage and commitment towards securing India. Their valour in the face of the most formidable conditions will forever remain a source of national pride. Their unwavering patriotism and devotion to duty will continue to inspire generations.'

The message underscored the government's consistent framing of Kargil Vijay Diwas as a moment of collective national remembrance rather than mere institutional commemoration.

Home Minister Shah's Message

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid his respects, stating: 'Kargil Vijay Diwas stands as a symbol of the Indian Army's indomitable courage and extraordinary valour. In 1999, despite facing adverse conditions and enemy positions situated at high altitudes amidst the treacherous, snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, our brave soldiers forced the enemy to their knees through Operation Vijay. On Kargil Vijay Diwas, I pay tribute to all those brave sons who made the ultimate sacrifice to uphold the nation's integrity.'

The Conflict India Remembers

The Kargil War, fought between May and July 1999, remains the only conventional armed conflict between two nuclear-armed neighbours in modern history. Battles unfolded at altitudes exceeding 5,000 metres across the mountainous sectors of Kargil, Dras, Batalik, Mushkoh, and Kaksar in Ladakh.

Indian forces successfully evicted Pakistani intruders without crossing the Line of Control (LoC) — a decision that earned India broad international recognition for military restraint and strategic discipline. The victory has since come to symbolise a watershed moment in India's defence preparedness and national security doctrine.

Mann Ki Baat Also Scheduled

Separately, Prime Minister Modi was scheduled to address the nation through the 136th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat at 11 am IST on Sunday. The broadcast was to air across Akashvani and Doordarshan networks, streamed live on the AIR News, DD News, PMO, and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting YouTube channels, and made available on the AIR News website and the Newsonair mobile application. Regional language broadcasts were slated to follow immediately after the original Hindi airing.

As India marks 27 years since the Kargil victory, the occasion continues to shape public discourse on military sacrifice, border security, and the strategic lessons that have informed India's defence posture in the decades since.