Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday led the nation in paying tributes to the martyrs on the 10th anniversary of the victory in the Kargil conflict, the first time that the UPA political leadership has joined such celebration."I join the entire nation in paying homage to the martyrs of the Kargil war. They sacrificed their lives in defence of Indian unity and integrity," the Prime Minister wrote in the visitor's book at Amar Jawan Jyoti here."The best tribute we can pay to the gallant officers and jawans is to dedicate ourselves to the gigantic task of nation building and work steadfastly to protect the unity and integrity of our nation," he added.At the time of the Kargil conflict, the Congress had attacked the BJP-led government on lapses that led to the incursions by the Pakistani regulars who had to be evicted from 13 mountain peaks after a nearly two month-long war.The Congress has always downplayed the events to commemorate the end of the conflict and this is for the first time that the Prime Minister of the UPA coalition attended the function.Singh was accompanied by Defence Minister A K Antony, Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Army Vice Chief Lieutenant General Noble Thamburaj and Air Force Vice Chief Air Marshal P K Barbora.Soon after the ceremony, the Prime Minister left for Vishakhapatnam where he will be launching the indigenously developed nuclear submarine INS Arihant for sea trials.As many as 533 jawans and officers had sacrificed their lives while re-capturing 13 hill points from Pakistani troops after they had sneaked into Indian posts and occupied the heights in 1999.Joining the war, the Indian Air Force had launched its Operation 'Safed Sagar' to evict the enemy troops sitting on the peak. It had lost two MiG 27s and one Mi-17 helicopter in the battle.To mark the tenth anniversary of the Operation Vijay, the Army is holding a series of events in the Kargil-Dras sector, which are being attended by the officers who took part in the war, gallantry award winners and their families and senior Army officials."Army and Air Force personnel will be heli-dropped on the recaptured peaks, which will be lighted during the night and photo exhibition, beating retreat and felicitation of war awardees will be the highlights of the programme," Army officials said.

Press Trust of India, Sunday July 26, 2009, New Delhi