Question

Do you think that countries should always be prepared for war? Did the Kargil War expose our ill preparedness?​

Answer 1

Answer:

Before the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan began, there was only one brigade of the Indian Army, comprising three units with about 2,500 soldiers, guarding 300 km of Indian territory, along the Line of Control (LoC) between Zojila and Leh. It meant that one unit was responsible for close to 100 km of territory, a task which was next to impossible. These sectors are the crucial backbone for the logistics requirements of the army from Zojila to the world’s highest army deployment, Siachen. More units were required, but the need was not felt then.

Indian posts along the LoC at the mountain peaks were vacated before winter. The Pakistanis did likewise on their side of the Line of Control (LoC). This was an understanding between the two sides due to the inhospitable living conditions at posts 14,000 to 18,000 feet high, with heavy winter snowfall cutting them off from the rest of the world.