In Focus by The Hindu In Focus-Weekend | Artillery at Kargil: How India’s guns turned the tide
Dec 7, 2025
Major General (Retd.) Lakhwinder Singh, a retired Indian Army officer and author of "Artillery's Thunder: The Untold Kargil Story," shares gripping insights into the Kargil War. He discusses the critical role of artillery in overcoming Pakistan's surprise occupation and the harsh challenges posed by Ladakh's environment. From innovative Bofors gun tactics to the tight coordination between artillery and infantry, his firsthand accounts reveal how these strategies shifted the conflict's tide. Singh also draws parallels with modern warfare, providing lessons for future high-altitude combat.
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Modern Precision Warfare Trend
- Operation Sintur highlighted modern precision, air-centric strikes unlike massed ground assaults.
- Singh links recent operations to a trend toward long-range precise air weaponry similar to developments seen in Ukraine.
High-Altitude Terrain Shapes Tactics
- Kargil's terrain and climate made fighting uniquely brutal and required acclimatization for effective operations.
- Major General (Retd.) Lakhwinder Singh stresses that the high-altitude desert and extreme weather shaped every tactical choice.
Tololing's Costly Early Assaults
- Infantry assaults stalled 200 meters from enemy positions and suffered heavy casualties during initial Tololing attacks.
- Singh recounts repeated failed forays by 18 Grenadiers before artillery innovations enabled progress.
