Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Kargil WarMemorial in Dras in Jammu and Kashmir Saturday and paid tributes to the Indiansoldiers killed during the Kargil war. The Union Minister is also scheduled toinaugurate two bridges in Kathua and Basantar later in the day.

Singh had taken to Twitter to inform about his day-long tripto Jammu and Kashmir in the morning. “Leaving New Delhi for Drass on a day-longvisit to J&K. Shall visit the Kargil War Memorial to pay tributes to thefallen soldiers. I shall also be visiting Jammu region where two bridges builtby BRO at Ujh in Kathua and Basantar in Samba will be dedicated to the nation,”Rajnath tweeted.

Rajnath’s visit to the memorial comes days ahead of thecelebration of the 20th anniversary of Operation Vijay by Indian Army. TheKargil war was fought between India and Pakistan between May and July 1999 inthe Kargil district of Kashmir and along the Line of Control (LOC). During thewar, the Indian Army evicted Pakistani intruders and succeeded in recapturingthe Tiger Hill and other posts as a part of Operation Vijay. The Indiansoldiers had secured this victory after a three-month conflict that led to aloss of lives from both sides with the Indian side losing nearly 490 officers,soldiers, and jawans. In order to commemorate India’s win in the war, theKargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on July 26. A host of events havebeen organised and a few major ones are lined up to mark the 20 years of theconflict. “Brave soldiers of the Indian Army had overcome seeminglyinsurmountable odds, hostile terrain, weather, and a determined enemy occupyingdominating heights, to win the Kargil War with the help of the Indian AirForce, which gave air support to the Army,” the Defence Ministry said onFriday.