On Friday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tribute to the brave heroes of Kargil at the National War Memorial. 

President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday hailed the "grit and valour of those who defended India" on the 20th anniversary of India's triumph in the Kargil war."On Kargil Vijay Diwas, a grateful nation acknowledges the gallantry of our Armed Forces on the heights of Kargil in 1999. We salute the grit and valour of those who defended India, and record our everlasting debt to those who never returned. Jai Hind," President Kovind tweeted.

Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pays tribute at National War Memorial on 20th #KargilVijayDiwas. pic.twitter.com/PWssdObUJY

— ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2019

In the photographs, he is seen interacting with army men and meeting wounded soldiers. PTI NAB 

As the nation observes the 20th anniversary of the Kargil war, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday shared pictures of his visit to the area during the conflict and his interaction with the soldiers."During the Kargil War in 1999, I had the opportunity to go to Kargil and show solidarity with our brave soldiers," he said on Twitter.

The prime minister said that in 1999, he was working for the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh."The visit to Kargil and interactions with soldiers are unforgettable," Modi said.

The war memorial has around 500 tombstones with the name of soldiers inscribed in them.The Indian armed forces had defeated Pakistan on July 26, 1999. Since then, the day is celebrated as Kargil Vijay Diwas.Indian Army is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Kargil War today to rekindle the pride and valour of the soldiers who took part in Operation Vijay.