PATRIOTISM
22
FALLEN,
BUT NOT
FORGOTTEN
Naval Operations
While the Army and
the Air Force readied
themselves for the battle
on the heights of Kargil,
Indian Navy began
to draw out its plans.
Unlike the earlier wars
with Pakistan, this time
the bringing in of the
Navy at the early stages
of the conflict served to
hasten the end of the
conflict in India’s favor.
In drawing up its
strategy, the Navy was
clear that a reply to the
Pakistani misadventure
had to be two-pronged.
While ensuring safety
and security of Indian
maritime assets from a
possible surprise attack
by Pakistan, the Indian
imperative was that all
efforts must be made
to deter Pakistan from
escalating the conflict
into a full scale war.
Thus, the Indian Navy
was put on a full alert
from May 20 onwards,
a few days prior to the
launch of the Indian
retaliatory offensive.