Kargil War

Kargil War, conflict in May–July 1999 between Pakistan and India in Kargil district, a sector of the disputed Kashmir region located along the line of control demarcating the Pakistan- and India-administered portions of Kashmir. Kargil is now part of the union territory of Ladakh. The war was fought in high elevations of about 16,500 feet (5,000 meters) and under extreme conditions. As of 2025, it is one of the few instances of a conventional war fought between two nuclear-armed powers. Kargil has often been the site of border skirmishes between the two countries, and the Kargil War was the largest and deadliest of these clashes.

Historical background

Tensions between India and Pakistan arose in 1947 after British India was partitioned into Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan. The division triggered mass migration, communal violence, and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. Territorial disputes followed, notably over the princely state (a semiautonomous territory in British India ruled by a local monarch under the suzerainty of the crown) of Kashmir. When tribal militias backed by Pakistan attempted to seize Kashmir in 1947, Hari Singh—the Hindu ruler of Muslim-majority Kashmir—acceded to India in exchange for military support, sparking the first India-Pakistan war. Wars in 1965 and 1971 further deepened hostilities. The 1971 war led to the creation of Bangladesh from East Pakistan and to the Simla Agreement (1972), a peace treaty in which India and Pakistan agreed to mutually respect territorial integrity and the line of control established in Kashmir. Despite the treaty’s commitment to peaceful coexistence, tensions between the two countries persisted. By the 1980s and ’90s Kashmir had become a hotbed of insurgency, and in 1998 both countries tested nuclear weapons. In February 1999 the two countries signed the Lahore Declaration to prevent nuclear conflict and resolve their disputes through peaceful means. However, this agreement failed to prevent another round of war.

Britannica Quiz

Explore India Quiz

Course of the war

The conflict began in early May when the Indian military learned that Pakistani fighters had infiltrated the Indian-administered territory in February as part of Operation Badr, which aimed to capture the Kargil region and force India to negotiate a settlement of the Kashmir dispute. After detecting the infiltration, India launched a military operation code-named Vijay (“Victory”), ordering its army to push back the intruders, who included regulars of the Pakistan Army, and recapture occupied areas. The Indian Army was supported by the air force in a parallel operation called Safed Sagar (“White Ocean”).

The bitter fighting took place in harsh terrain about 16,500 feet (5,000 meters) above sea level while intensive diplomatic activity at the government level took place elsewhere. Pakistani Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz visited New Delhi on June 12, but his talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh failed to produce results. Meetings of military leaders from both countries followed, and in the weeks ahead the international community asserted the need for Pakistan to return to the line of control. Eventually, on July 11, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced that the militants would withdraw, and India gave them until July 16 to do so. Sporadic fighting continued after the deadline, however.

Key battles

• Battle of Tololing: Tololing peak, rising more than 16,000 feet (4,800 meters) above sea level, was initially captured by the Pakistani military. The battle commenced when Indian troops scaled the mountain. It culminated on June 13 when Indian troops recaptured the peak after a three-week assault. The battle resulted in casualties on both sides.
• Battle of Tiger Hill: The Battle of Tiger Hill was one of the fiercest battles of the war. The fighting occurred on Tiger Hill, which stands at about 16,500 feet (5,000 meters) above sea level. Pakistani forces, which had captured the peak, were initially successful in repelling Indian counterattacks. However, the Indian military recaptured Tiger Hill after a sustained assault.
• Battle of Point 4875: The battle was pivotal in the war because of the peak’s strategic location in the Dras region from which any activity on the Srinagar-Leh Highway could be monitored. Pakistani troops had covertly occupied the height. Upon detection the Indian military launched an attack, ultimately recapturing the point.

The Kargil War witnessed multiple acts of valor undertaken by soldiers of both India and Pakistan, some of which are listed here:

Impact

The Kargil War had far-reaching military, political, and diplomatic consequences for India and Pakistan. More than 500 Indian soldiers died during the war, and estimated Pakistani losses range between 400 and 4,000. Although India launched a successful military campaign and recaptured all territories infiltrated by Pakistani troops by July 26—a day now commemorated as Kargil Vijay Diwas (“Kargil Victory Day”) in India—the war exposed gaps in the country’s border surveillance and intelligence capabilities. Pakistan not only failed to achieve its military aims but also suffered severe political upheaval. The outcome of the war intensified already simmering tensions between the civilian government, led by Prime Minister Sharif, and the military, led by Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Following the war, Sharif dismissed Musharraf as army chief, but the military responded by overthrowing Sharif. In October 1999 Musharraf ousted Sharif, suspended the constitution, and imposed martial law in Pakistan.

Are you a student?

Get a special academic rate on Britannica Premium.

Subscribe