Imran Shah
Kishtwar,(DD) As India marks the solemn occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, the story of Rifleman Ishtiyaq Ahmad from Palmar village in Kishtwar resonates as a powerful reminder of courage and sacrifice in the face of overwhelming odds during the 1999 Kargil War.
Born on April 3, 1978, into a humble and patriotic family, Ishtiyaq Ahmad was raised by Abdul Ghani and Shaya Begum in the hilly terrain of Kishtwar. Known for his disciplined nature and commitment to national service, he joined the Indian Army in 1996 and was inducted into the Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI)—a regiment renowned for its valour and grit in high-altitude operations.
After completing a challenging deployment in Siachen, Ishtiyaq Ahmad and his unit—the 12th Battalion of JAK LI—were moved to the Batalik sector of Ladakh in May 1999, as the Kargil conflict intensified. On June 7, 1999, the battalion was tasked with one of the most perilous missions of the war: the recapture of Point 5203, a strategically critical peak located at an altitude of 17,000 feet in the Kargil-Yaldor region.
Led by Captain Amol Kalia, a seasoned officer and mountaineer, a team of 13 soldiers, including Rifleman Ishtiyaq Ahmad, was heli-dropped into hostile terrain under constant enemy surveillance and shelling. Despite the odds, the team braved sub-zero temperatures, rugged cliffs, and entrenched enemy fire to scale the mountain using specialized climbing techniques.
In the early hours of June 9, 1999, the team launched a daring assault on well-fortified enemy positions. The battle was intense and fought at close quarters. Rifleman Ishtiyaq Ahmad, fighting alongside his comrades, helped secure a foothold on the northwestern slope of Point 5203. However, the mission came at a heavy cost.
Rifleman Ishtiyaq Ahmad made the supreme sacrifice during the fierce encounter, alongside Captain Kalia and nine other soldiers: Hero Rajinder Singh, Nk Pawan Kumar, LNk Lekhit Ali, LNk G.H. Mohammad Khan, Rfn Darshan Lal, Rfn Abdul Salam Dar, and Rfn Ravinder Singh. Two more soldiers—Havildar Kartar Singh and Rfn Tarsem Lal—succumbed to injuries the following day.
Despite the loss, the successful capture of Point 5203 marked a significant tactical victory for the Indian Army in the Batalik sector and helped pave the way for further gains in the conflict that ultimately ended in India reclaiming occupied peaks across the Line of Control.
Rifleman Ishtiyaq Ahmad is survived by his mother, Shaya Begum, who remembers her son not only as a soldier but as a kind-hearted, determined young man who never hesitated to put his nation first.
As tributes pour in on Kargil Vijay Diwas, the name of Rifleman Ishtiyaq Ahmad stands tall among the countless heroes who gave their all for the sovereignty and honour of the country(DD)
