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In July of 1999 a violent conflict erupted between Pakistan and India. The conflict broke up because Pakistan allegedly crossed the Line of Control into the Indian controlled side. This simple act caused 8 weeks of warfare between the two countries.


The Conflict

The conflict started when on May 3, India spots Pakistani troops on the Jubbar heights, the fighting continued to be mainly around the Kargil area of the country. On May 4-5 the fighting starts as Indian troops are ambushed by Pakistanis who have dug into the ground. On May 6-7 shelling from both of the sides begins. The fighting continues for many days, on May 19, Pakistan claims to have captured 5 Indian posts. By May 22, Pakistan had advanced nearly 5 km into Indian held Kashmir and claimed much of the unheld territory in Kashmir.

Throughout the war both India and Pakistan threatened to go nuclear against each other. Pakistan threatened India if it did not stop blocking supply routes and the escape routes of intruders. Pakistan continues all the while to reject UN peace settlements and take border posts claiming it was Kashmiris. Pakistan's Army Plan For Intrusions

India continues fighting against Pakistan and on June 4 asks Pakistan to stop trying to reform the Line of Control and give up the fight. Just a few weeks later all diplomatic attempts to end the war end in a stalemate between Pakistan and India.

On June 15, India adopts a defense strategy as reports of troop movement to the Line of Control is once again rumored. On June 22, India destroys the main group of Pakistan based intruders and the Indian airforce heads back to Kargil for missions. By July 1, India had recaptured all of its 5 posts back and Pakistan had been pushed back to only occupy 1/2 mile of the line of control.

July 12- Indian ultimatum that the fighting must end by July 16. By July 15, just a few hours from the deadline Pakistani troops still occupy the border of the line of control. By July 20, life as normal can finally return to Kargil as Pakistani troops have been pushed back to Pakistani occupied Kashmir.

For both countries the tolls were high

 

The End of the Fightting

The fighting ended with the Lahore Declaration

The Lahore Declaration

The Prime Ministers of the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan:

Sharing a vision of peace and stability between their countries, and of progress and prosperity for their peoples;

Convinced that durable peace and development of harmonious relations and friendly cooperation will serve the vital interests of the peoples of the two countries, enabling them to devote their energies for a better future;

Recognising that the nuclear dimension of the security environment of the two countries adds to their responsibility for avoidance of conflict between the two countries;

Committed to the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, and the universally accepted principles of peaceful co- existence;

Reiterating the determination of both countries to implementing the Simla Agreement in letter and spirit;

Committed to the objective of universal nuclear disarmament and non-proliferartion;

Convinced of the importance of mutually agreed confidence building measures for improving the security environment;

Recalling their agreement of 23rd September, 1998, that an environment of peace and security is in the supreme national interest of both sides and that the resolution of all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, is essential for this purpose;

Have agreed that their respective Governments:

  • shall intensify their efforts to resolve all issues, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • shall refrain from intervention and interference in each other's internal affairs.
  • shall intensify their composite and integrated dialogue process for an early and positive outcome of the agreed bilateral agenda.
  • shall take immediate steps for reducing the risk of accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons and discuss concepts and doctrines with a view to elaborating measures for confidence building in the nuclear and conventional fields, aimed at prevention of conflict.
  • reaffirm their commitment to the goals and objectives of SAARC and to concert their efforts towards the realisation of the SAARC vision for the year 2000 and beyond with a view to promoting the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life through accelerated economic growth, social progress and cultural development.
  • reaffirm their condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and their determination to combat this menace.
  • shall promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Signed at Lahore on the 21st day of February 1999.

Atal Behari Vajpayee
Prime Minister of the Republic of India

Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Results
  • The conflict laid the ground for a potentially stable peace after the two nuclear countries went to war and did not use nuclear weapons. Both India and Pakistan are realizing how useless it is to fight and reailze what they must do to resolve the conflict
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Additional Links

Kargil Timeline

indiainfo -> News -> Spotlight -> Kargil Watch

The Rediff On The NeT Special: The Kargil Crisis

archive: After the Kargil crisis Pakistan finds itself in a lose-lose

Army in Kashmir: The Truth About Kashmir