New Delhi : The Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, said on Thursday that the sacrifices and bravery of our soldiers in the Kargil War must continue to inspire future generations and it is more important to learn the right lessons from this war.
Addressing an event commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Kargil War, General Chauhan said, “War is a very important political and military event in the history of a nation. It has a potential to change the destiny of a nation and its people for the people, its territories, and its ideology. Hence, I believe that, for this reason, the story of all losses needs to be recalled time and again and retold multiple times.”
The CDS also pointed out that the sacrifices, bravery of our soldiers must continue to inspire future generations of youth and soldiers to join the Indian Armed Forces.
“Apart from recalling the memories of the war, I believe it’s also important to look at the aftermath of the war and draw useful lessons for the future. We must not repeat the same mistake. Other instruments of national power and dealing with security and defence in the country must also take note of those lessons. It’s been 25 years since we fought the Pakistani intruders on icy heights. To learn lessons from this war from this experience is important, but it’s more important to learn the right lessons from this war,” he said.
General Anil Chauhan, further underscored that the Kargil War was a conflict that underscored the need for a robust and responsive defense strategy.
“The Kargil conflict highlighted the significance of maintaining vigilance and preparedness for safeguarding our borders. It also emphasized the importance of public and international diplomacy. The Kargil War was a limited war. It was the first limited war fought on the subcontinent. Both nations demonstrated nuclear weapon capability in 1988. There are lessons to be drawn from it. In my view, there will always be more than a casual connection between limited war, full-scale conflict, and nuclear deterrence,” the CDS said.
Chauhan also pointed out that the Kargil War was the first war that actually brought the war into our bedrooms. It captured the nation’s imagination as well as its attention. “It also brought out the importance of free and open media that existed on our side of this state, which is in India. And on the other side of the border, there was state sponsored media. It made a big difference during the Kargil War, and will make a bigger difference in the future, with the constant battle of narratives attempting to shape perceptions across the world. There is no denying that the information domain has emerged as another way to keep battle victories,” he noted.
