Srinagar, July 25 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived here on Saturday to travel to Kargil by road to attend the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations. To participate in the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas Events at Drass, the defence minister is taking the road journey to Drass due to inclement weather.On his arrival at Srinagar International Airport, the Defence Minister was received by the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha along with senior civil and security officials.The Defence Minister was scheduled to travel to Drass by helicopter to attend the commemorative events. However, due to adverse weather conditions and poor flying conditions, the helicopter sortie could not be operated.Subsequently, Rajnath Singh proceeded to Drass by road to attend the celebrations. The two-day Kargil Vijay Diwas programme commenced on Saturday at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass, where the nation will pay homage to the brave soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces who made the supreme sacrifice during the 1999 Kargil War.

The annual event is attended by senior military commanders, veterans, families of martyrs, civil dignitaries, and government representatives, and commemorates India’s historic victory in the Kargil conflict while honouring the courage, sacrifice, and valour of the armed forces.Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on July 26 across India. The day holds tremendous significance in Indian history and commemorates the victory of the Indian armed forces over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil War. This year, the day marks the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.The day is celebrated for ousting Pakistani Forces from their occupied positions on the mountain tops of Northern Kargil District in Ladakh in 1999.Initially, the Pakistani army denied their involvement in the war, claiming that it was caused by the Kashmiri militants.However, documents left behind by casualties, testimony of POWs and later statements by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Army Chief of Army Staff Pervez Musharraf pointed to the involvement of the Pakistani paramilitary forces, led by General Ashraf Rashid.

/IANS