Intelligence failure led to Kargil war: former Lt General Mohinder Puri

[Abu Zarrar]

The 1999 Kargil intrusion was the fallout of the failure of the military intelligence as well as other intelligence agencies, Lieutenant General (retd) Mohinder Puri said Sunday while speaking at the Bhopal Litfest here.
Recalling the intrusion, Lt. General Puri said Pakistan’s aim was to internationalise the Kashmir issue and change the alignment of the Line of Control in the Kargil sector by opening the conflict against India.
He had headed the 8 Mountain Division during “Operation Vijay”.
“The Kargil War happened due to the failure of intelligence agencies, including military intelligence,” the decorated officer said during an interaction on the second day of the Bhopal literature and art festival at Bharat Bhavan here.
The 8 Mountain Battalion headed by him was tasked to evict the enemy from the Drass-Mushkoh Sector during “Operation Vijay”.
“It was in the first week of May (1999) when 3 Infantry Division received information of an intrusion in the Batalik sector. Later on, it was detected that the intrusion had taken place over a very wide front,” the Lt. General said.
The top commander said Pakistan’s aim was to internationalise the Kashmir issue and to change the alignment of the LoC in the Kargil sector.
“Pakistan also wanted to interdict a road from Srinagar to Leh thus isolating Siachen. It also wanted to launch a fresh launch pad for militants from the captured area to intrude into Himachal Pradesh,” the Lt. General said.
The Lt. General recalled that he was tasked with restoring the sanctity of the LOC and clear the national highway 1D in the Dras- Mushkoh Sector.
Lt. General Puri further said the main credit of the Kargil victory goes to the young officers who fought bravely. “This is the hallmark of the Indian army,” he added.
When asked about the regimental culture of the Indian Army, the Lt General said a regiment is a small family of around 900 soldiers, and a soldier’s first commitment is towards the unit and then for the country.
“Being in uniform for 40 years, I must say that one should not tinker with the structure of regimentation. It is tried and tested structure for years,” he said. (PTI)

Source:http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/intelligence-failure-led-to-kargil-war-mohinder-puri/

 

[Cobra Arbok]

Yes Kargil was largely the result of a failure on the part of the IB. That and India did not think Pakistan would enter those vacated peaks during winter. But what was an embarrassing intelligence failure was turned into a major military victory and an even bigger political victory for india. By July 4th, India had captured Tiger Hill, the highest point in the kargil sector, and Pakistan saw the writing on the wall and vacated the peaks that were still occupied.

 

[alee92nawaz]

Yes Kargil was largely the result of a failure on the part of the IB. That and India did not think Pakistan would enter those vacated peaks during winter. But what was an embarrassing intelligence failure was turned into a major military victory and an even bigger political victory for india. By July 4th, India had captured Tiger Hill, the highest point in the kargil sector, and Pakistan saw the writing on the wall and vacated the peaks that were still occupied.

PA still has some strategic peaks, didn't vacate even after intense fighting. I think it's .5353

 

[Cobra Arbok]

PA still has some strategic peaks, didn't vacate even after intense fighting. I think it's .5353

that point is not even in the Kargil sector and was only in play after the ceasefire. But in case you are wondering, Point 5353 was an unoccupied point that Pakistan occupied after India occupied the Pakistan held peaks of point 5310 and 4262, as well as point 5770 on Siachen. Point 5353's strategic importance has been decreased by the indian occupation of the other points, which is why the Indian army has been able to continue operations on the Siachen highway unhindered by Pakistan. The whole point of the Kargil operation was to cut of the Siachen highway and eventually take back Siachen from India.