Kargil War Anniversary: Meet Tashi Namgyal, shepherd who warned Army of Pakistan infiltration

Kargil War Anniversary: The Kargil War between India and Pakistan took place from May to July 1999 in Jammu and Kashmir's Kargil district. It was a watershed moment in the two countries' ongoing Kashmir conflict. 

The Kargil War saw intense and challenging battles fought at high altitudes in harsh and hostile terrain. Both sides suffered significant casualties and encountered several problems as a result of the adverse weather conditions. With persistence, Indian forces reclaimed the crucial peaks one by one, pushing out Pakistani intruders.

Each year, India observes the Kargil War anniversary to honour its brave soldiers and their sacrifices. But there is one forgotten hero who still awaits recognition: Tashi Namgyal.

Tashi Namgyal, a local shepherd from the small village of Gharkon near Batalik town of Kargil, was the first to warn the Indian Army of a Pakistani infiltration.

On May 2, 1999, while looking for his list Yak, Tashi Namgyal noticed six men breaking stones and clearing the snow. This was odd for Tashi because he saw no footsteps leading to the location and it was evident that they had arrived from the other side. The men wore Pathani clothes and army uniforms, and some of them carried weapons.  

Tashi's split-second decision to report the invasion in Kargil to the army saved many lives in the Indian Army during the early stages of the Kargil War in 1999. Following his information, a team was dispatched to scan the region. What the group of 20-25 Indian army troops found was surprising: men with rifles and ammo getting ready. Based on his information, the Indian army moved quickly to reduce the possibility of harm.