Original subtitles

How can we impact the exact location?

Sir, there is some confusion.

The same coordinates as today have come back for tomorrow,

including point 4065.

The Army told us to stop bombing

because they wanted to commence the ground assault--

They did.

But the moment they climbed the hill, they were ambushed.

Unfortunately, it's not just point 4065,

it's with every peak that we have bombed.

But how's that possible, Sir?

70% of our bombs have been on target.

Bombs are falling on the peaks,

but because of our 100-to-150-meter error,

they are not directly destroying the bunkers.

And what we gather from the enemy's RT intercepts

is that the shrapnel from our bomb blasts

isn't penetrating the bunkers which are made of stone.

So their strategy is very simple now.

The moment they hear our jets coming,

they go and hide in the bunkers.

And when our army climbs there, they emerge from them again.

Which simply means that…

our so-called sophisticated high-altitude strategy…

…is being neutralized by some pre-historic rocks.

The Pakistan Army treated the bodies

of our martyred soldiers with gross inhumanity

in the Kargil sector.

According to our Defense forces,

these bodies don't bear only bullet injuries.

The bodies carry cigarette burn marks,

pierced eardrums with hot spokes,

and gouged eyeballs, and brutally cut body parts

have been reported as well.

Amidst growing public outrage,

the Indian Army said that the Pakistan Army

will be given a befitting reply

for their inhuman brutality within the next 48 hours.

Forty-eight hours, my foot!

Even 48 years aren't enough.

I'm sorry.

We tried.

Jai Hind, Sir.

One of the captured Pakistani soldiers has regained consciousness.

Tony, I'll see you.

Stop! Get out of the way!

- Stop! - Boys!

Let us go inside, Sir.

We will do to them what they have done to our brothers.

This is the Indian Army.

We're all angry about it.

But whatever we do to them, we only do it on the battlefield.

Not to an enemy who's half-dead.

Listen, you have two options.

Either give us a confession,

or my men are waiting for you outside.

And they all know that you're part of the 12 NLI.

If I let them loose on you,

- then-- - Let them do it, Sir.

I have also killed their brothers.

Aren't you afraid of dying?

You can't kill a dead man twice.

So what did a dead man get by doing all of this?

The same thing…

that you all get.

A salary.

Now you won't get that either.

The 12 NLI's commander,

the DGMO, General Musharraf, all of them have given a statement

that all of you are not from the Pakistan Army.

Which country's army were you fighting for?

They're not even claiming you as one of their own.

You're going to rot in a prison here.

Your poor family won't even know where you are or what happened to you,

what state you were in when you died.

Sir.

I… I want to tell you something.

So, do you think after this soldier's confession,

we could finally get permission to cross the LoC?

Yeah, we've got all the army IDs.

We also have all the military documents.

In fact, we have recovered the SAMS as well,

which were used to attack you.

But if a country's army is disowning their own soldiers so blatantly like this,

then-then what good is this proof?

I'm surprised.

- I never thought a country's army-- - Sartaj!

Can I just have a look at these SAMS?

This doesn't seem to have radar cueing.

Sir.

Sartaj.

I don't think the army would need to cross the LoC anymore.

Because we don't have to fly above the clouds any longer.

We can now hit them from a low altitude.

But…

Wouldn't you be within the range of their SAMS?

Isn't that too risky, Tony?

These are heat-seeking missiles.

They don't have radar cueing.

The target has to be locked visually.

If they can't even see us in the night, how will they lock on to us?

Sartaj, I need a secure line.

Chou.

You're flying tonight, aren't you?

Yes, Sir.

One change.

I'll fly with you tonight.

We need to do a little experiment.

Releasing in three, two, one.

Now. Bombs away.

Bombs away.

Job done, Arrows. Return to base now.

Copy that.

Arrow 1, confirm losing altitude.

Checking tensions.

Negative, Sir.

We are still above the clouds.

The radar must be glitching out.

Hide in the bunkers, quick!

Come on, come on!

Sir, communications secure on Channel 2.

Copy that. Let's enter the target valley.

Roger that.

1500 meters above the target, Sir.

I see the peak, not the bunkers.

- Let's go lower, Chou. - Roger, Sir.

The jets sound quite close to us today.

Chou, can you see anything?

No, Sir, negative. Let's go further down.

Okay, Chou, but let's be careful.

We are in their missile range now.

Roger that.

Okay, that's it, Chou.

Target acquired. 1000 meters. Let's get the hell out of here!

Roger that, Sir.

Sir, I have checked their stinger missiles personally.

They don't have radar homing. They're heat-seeking missiles.

We can take advantage of this situation,

and fly below the clouds in the night and hit their bunkers directly.

Sorry, come again, Tony.

You want to do visual guided bombing at night, in these mountains?

We are in the moon phase, Sir.

This white ocean glows in the night.

Visibility is not a problem at all.

But Tony, by the time you finish the trials,

the moon cycle will be over, won't it?

We'll have to wait another 15 days for the next cycle,

and we don't have that much time.

I'm sorry, but we have already conducted the trial

during tonight's night bombing.

We can start right away.

That was reckless, Tony.

But they will never expect this.

So let's do it.

Low altitude night bombing is officially on.

We're in the sector. Let's go down.

Roger.

Descending now.

They're coming close again.

Captain, get the SAM out.

Something is wrong.

We don't know anything at all about their plan.

We should hide in the bunkers.

If they dare to come into our missile range…

then like the last time,

we will just shoot them down.

Get the other SAM out as well.

And everyone else, go hide inside the bunkers! Hurry up!

2000 meters above target. Let's go down to 1000.

Roger.

Hurry up.

They can come from any direction.

Where should I aim?

Arrow 2, I have a visual of the peak.

Visual confirmed.

Sir, I think they are coming from that side.

Aim there.

Arrow 2, standby to acquired target.

On standby.

See the jet?

I can't, Sir. It's very dark.

The jets are coming towards us, Sir!

Try and lock onto them now.

Yes, Sir. I'm trying to lock in on the target,

but it's not happening.

Arrow 2, you have only six seconds after the release

- to climb up. - Copy that.

If you fire without locking target, we won't hit them.

I don't think we have another option.

- Arrow 2, bombs on standby. - Roger.

Fire!

Bombs away.

Bombs away.

Pull up, exercise caution! Reheat!

Flying Officer Dhali,

you've become the youngest pilot in the Indian Air Force

to carry out low altitude night bombing in a war.

Thank you for trusting me, Sir.

This was a real honor.

Boys, you've done it.

Enemy positions on point 4065 have been completely destroyed by your bombs.

The army will reclaim that peak within 24 hours.

This will change the face of the Kargil war.

It was just one peak today.

We still have another ten moon nights to go, Sir.

Bombs away.

Bombs away.

We've lost the Bashir Post.

We won't be able to send supplies to any peak in the Yaldor sector.

It's been almost two months since the Kargil war started.

And now, with the Indian Air Force's low altitude night bombing,

it seems that the tide of this war is turning in India's favor.

Amidst the relentless bombing by the Indian Airforce,

now Kargil's mountains also echo with the Bofors guns.

With the help of these Bofors guns,

the Indian Army can now continuously shell

enemy's positions around the clock.

The defenses of the enemy have crumbled

going through the relentless pressure maintained by our ground forces

and the heavy attrition caused on the enemy

by the effective air strikes

and the pounding undertaken by our artillery.

Pakistan has been suffering

heavy losses on the battlefield,

while their condition on the diplomatic front has taken a hit.

Pakistan's claim that the men fighting in Kargil

are actually the Mujahideen has now completely fallen apart.

The PoW statements clearly show that

they're not the Mujahideen, but in fact, Pakistani soldiers.

I am a soldier with the 12 Northern Light Infantry.

Initially, we used to have a lot of ration and provisions,

and enough ammunition.

But, uh, when the Indian Army started attacking us,

our seniors completely abandoned us.

If the Indian Army hadn't captured us, then…

we would have definitely died of starvation, Sir.

General Zia…

erase his name from all the military records.

And tell Hassan, henceforth whichever soldiers are sent there,

all their ID cards need to be to confiscated.

Are we even winning this war?

When has he ever told us the truth about what is happening there, Sir?

If you want to see the reality of this war,

you'll have to come with me.

In the last two weeks,

due to the continuous operations of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force,

India has recaptured almost all the peaks in Kargil

that were captured by the Pakistan Army.

But some important peaks in Drass and Batalik,

like the Tiger Hill and Point 4875, are still occupied by Pakistan.

Welcome to Skardu, Sir.

Mr. Nawaz is here to see the truth of this war

with his own eyes, General Hassan.

It would be better if nothing is hidden from him.

Right, Sir.

Let's, uh, go to the Officers' mess.

I'll give you a full update there.

General Hassan,

the truth of a democracy is seen at a polling booth,

and the truth of war

can only be seen inside a hospital.

Sir, this tent was empty till yesterday.

But the Indian Air Force carried out a big attack today,

which left a lot of our soldiers injured.

Otherwise, everything was under control.

Pakistan is winning the war, Sir.

You call this winning?

Shame on such an army

that couldn't even be loyal to its own soldiers.

Who gave Mr. Nawaz permission to come to the base?

When Islamabad isn't willing to support us in this cause,

- then he has no right to come-- - Sir.

The Aqil post has been lost.

The Indian Air Force is bombing through the night--

Aziz has already briefed me.

Don't miss the big picture, Hassan.

Sir, the big picture is that we had no idea

that such a small operation would escalate into such a big war.

All our assessments about the Indian Army

and the Indian Air Force has been absolutely wrong.

And now the situation is such that

the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force are ready for a bloodbath.

I want solutions, I don't want complaints.

There's only one solution.

I think we should withdraw from this war, Sir.

Hassan, wasn't it your idea

that we should go ahead and capture all of these Indian posts?

And I take full responsibility for our loss in this war.

I'm sorry, Sir.

I will not send even one of my soldiers forward now.

My conscience isn't allowing me to do this anymore.

General Hassan…

I hereby relieve you and your conscience from this operation.

Now please hand over all your responsibilities to General Mahmud.

That will be all.

Sir.

Pervez.

Is everything okay?

Everything is fine.

Pervez, the Pakistan Air Force will not cross the LoC.

Does that mean

the Pakistan Airforce

isn't going to do anything in the biggest operation of the country?

Did you consult with the Air Force or the Navy

before you started such a big operation?

Forget consulting with us.

You didn't even think it was necessary to inform us.

And now that your plan is failing,

that's when you suddenly remembered the Pakistan Air Force.

In that case, Mr. Mehdi,

we should sing praises for the Indian Air Force.

Mr. Mehdi,

the Indian Air Force

must have also joined this operation at a moment's notice, right?

As Air Chief, my answer is clear.

I refuse to send my pilots

on such suicide missions on a terrain like this.

But, Pervez, since I'm your friend, I can do you a favor

with which the Indian Air Force will not be able to target your bunkers.

Arrow 2, preparing to descend.

Roger.

Arrow 2, approaching target.

On your tail, Sir.

There. Aim there!

Approaching target,

- stay on my tail. - Roger.

There!

Arrow 2. Bombs on standby.

Missile! Pull up! Pull up! Pull up!

The missile's range is 10,000 feet.

If we climb higher, it won't reach us.

Copy that!

Pull up, keep pulling up!

Pulling up!

Hard right.

What the hell?

How are they able to aim in the dark?

No idea, Sir.

Thankfully, you spotted it on time.

It was sheer luck.

I could spot the missile because it was dark.

Let's get the hell out of here, Arrow 2.

Sir.

Jai Hind, Sir.

At ease.

Skardu Base and Point 4875 had an RT conversation

which the Military Intelligence has intercepted.

Please.

Base to 4875, fighters approaching.

Two fighter jets approaching.

- Get the SAMS. - Okay.

Tell me their position and direction.

030 radial, losing altitude 650 kph.

Expect visual contact in 30 seconds.

The Pakistani Air Force is installing radars near the peaks.

Now, whenever our jets fly low in Drass,

they will know exactly which heading we're coming from.

This changes everything.

Our surprise element has been compromised.

We wanted to reclaim Point 5280 during the last sorties of the moon cycle.

Because this peak in Kaksar

was a link for them between Drass and Batalik.

It was choking the NH1 for the Indian Army already,

but it's quite clear from Military Intelligence

this is also the route for fresh reinforcements for the Pakistan Army

to all Drass and Batalik peaks including Tiger Hill.

We have only two options left.

Either the Mirage-2000 strikes from outside the missile range,

or our army climbs up inch by inch and fights a long battle.

This will really hurt us.

But there are no unconventional strategies left to try.

It's time for the Golden Arrows to stand down.

Tony?

Sir.

Sir.

We can hit Point 5280.

What did you not understand, Baldy?

They have radars now.

Didn't you hear Patney Sir?

Exactly, Sir. But we can manage to trick those radars.

Arrows.

We've done this before.

Ahuja Sir's transport jet strategy.

Yes.

We can do it, Sir.

And we should do it today.

Tonight's the last night of the moon phase.

Ahuja Sir had trained us for this very day.

He trained you.

Where?

When?

On flatlands?

During the day? In peace time?

The transport formation is a very difficult formation in itself.

And we are supposed to be flying it

in the most dangerous mountains in the world, and that too at night,

in the middle of a war? Get real boys.

Sir.

Whatever we have done in this war so far,

day bombing, night bombing, high altitude, low altitude,

we didn't practice for any of that either.

This is not the same, Dhali.

One needs a different level of readiness

for such a difficult formation to be pulled off in such a terrain.

And we are, Sir.

We are fully ready.

Baldy, you haven't flown even a single sortie here.

I'm sorry, Sir, but that's not my fault.

I have memorized all maps ten times over.

But you didn't trust me with a single sortie.

Which is fine, that's your call.

But readiness is not about the number of sorties--

Madhavi is pregnant, Baldy.

Sir.

I don't see the connection, Sir.

That's my personal matter.

This can't be the reason for you to stop me from flying.

Baldy is right.

This is the life we all signed up for, Sir.

Let this be my call, Sir.

Baldy should fly.

Sir, whether anyone has been trained or not,

we've definitely learnt how to back each other up.

Sir, you told me once.

No one's ever ready for war.

If we go down, we go down together.

Chou.

Ready the jets now.

The boys are ready.

Arrows…

it'll be my honor to lead you.

Boys, we can fool them with the transport formation

but for a maximum of two to three minutes.

That's why we will split into four pairs immediately

after takeoff and approach from different valleys.

We will fly below the crest level in the depths of the valleys,

so that their radar cannot pick us up.

We will have to fly through these valleys in perfect sync.

So that we can all reach the delta point where these four valleys meet,

together at the same time.

There, we will form our eight-jet transport formation.

And instead of eight different jets,

a big transport aircraft dot will be visible to them on their radar.

Is that clear, boys?

Okay.

Uh, MET hotline, Sir.

Heavy cloud formation ahead on Arrow 3's flight path.

Alert them.

Arrow 3 scanners.

Heavy cloud buildup on radial 030-80 km.

Exercise strong caution.

Arrow 3. Consider alternate route.

Arrow 1 copy. Standby, update.

No alternate route.

There are only two options, either we abort the mission,

or go through the clouds.

In that case, Arrow 3, abort approach.

You will not go through the clouds in these mountains.

Arrow 1, if we abort the mission, everyone has to abort.

That's okay. Arrows, standby to abort.

- Arrow 3 monitored. - Arrow 5 monitored.

- Monitored. - Arrow 4, standby to pull up.

Arrows, wait!

We can go through the clouds.

Dhali, you've done this before.

Not in this terrain, Baldy.

If the peak in front of us is more than 4000 meters,

we'll crash straight into the mountains.

Arrow 4, what do you suggest?

That peak is 4320 meters.

If we maintain speed at 800, it'll take us exactly 10 seconds

to reach 4500 meters.

Arrow 4, are you sure about your calculations?

Sir, they don't call me Mr. Professor for nothing.

Okay, Arrow 4.

Go ahead, but I want to see all my pilots at the Delta point.

Yes, Sir. You will.

Arrow 3, follow my lead, maintain 800.

Hey, Professor.

It's all up to you now.

Speed steady at 800!

Altitude 3250!

Climbing!

Alright, maintaining thrust.

Dhali.

Max, reheat!

3750.

4000.

The visibility is zero, but we are on track.

Five seconds left.

4250.

Pull up.

Pulling up!

4500!

Arrow 3 and 4 at Delta, joining up.

Well done, boys.

Arrows join up in close formation.

It's time to become a dot.

Okay, boys.

This mission is not mentioned in any manual.

And if we succeed in doing this,

we will write the manual ourselves.

Let's do this, boys.

Transport aircraft flying in from South West Delhi heading.

Details.

Currently at 27,000 feet.

What is a transport jet doing here at this height?

Check the movement sheet. Tell me which aircraft this is.

Hamza,

just check the movement sheet. Quickly.

- You get SAMS out. - Okay, Sir.

Arrows, 30 seconds to descend.

Nothing on the movement sheet. Don't know what aircraft it is.

Descend now.

Blip is rapidly losing altitude in your direction.

Dhali, Baldy, it's show time!

- Copy. - Roger.

Split!

It's a decoy.

There are eight jets,

coming from different directions.

What are you doing?

- Why haven't you fired yet? - We can't see anything, Sir.

We can only hear the jets from all the sides.

I can't figure which direction to target.

There are eight jets. Just fire!

Arrow 2, missile at 12 o'clock, make right.

Missiles evaded. Arrow 3 and 4, clear to fire.

Smoke them up, boys.

These two jets are coming this way.

Give me that!

In three, two, one.

Now! Bombs away!

Bombs away!

Arrows, Ahuja would be proud of us.

Let's get back home now.

For the last two months,

all of us together, we've been fighting this war.

The most unconventional war in history.

Today, the Golden Arrows have pulled off a suicide mission

and completed it with zero casualties and they have proved

that the Indian Air Force fighters,

they don't just touch the impossible, they break right through it.

Yes! Yes!

Boys, victory is now just a few peaks away from us.

And you Arrows have given us the time to ready our most powerful weapon,

the Mirages.

Their laser-guided bombs are live,

locked,

and loaded to conquer Tiger Hill.

Boys.

Every day, for the past few days,

we've only been hearing

about system errors and the struggles of our soldiers.

But finally, our own laser-guided bombs are ready.

The frustration through this struggle, and the anger that's built up within us,

isn't less than a bomb itself.

Are the Battleaxes

prepared to give the enemy a final blow

- in this war? - Yes, Sir!

- Shatrunjaya! - Shatrunjaya!

- Shatrunjaya! - Shatrunjaya!

Nambiar, laser on. Ready?

More than ready.

Ten kilometers away. Start zooming in.

Visual acquired.

Enemy bunker's clear as day.

Let's crush the ego of Little Pakistan once and for all.

Roger! Bombs away!

Bombs away!

After nearly 11 hours of relentless combat

supported by precision strikes from Indian Air Force Mirage jets,

Indian forces have recaptured Tiger Hill.

This decisive victory restores Indian control

over the strategic heights of Drass,

marking a significant turning point in the Kargil conflict.

Along with Tiger Hill, the Indian Air Force's Mirage jets

also attacked the Pakistan supply base at Muntho Dalo in the Batalik sector,

around 300 Pakistani soldiers have been killed in this attack.

Where is Mister Prime Minister?

The Prime Minister has left for…

Washington D.C. alone.

Thank you for agreeing to see me today.

You barged in here

and blackmail me with a threat of nuclear war.

I am sorry. Nuclear war? I don't follow, Mr. President.

Either you are a very good actor

or you have no idea what's happening in your own backyard.

Your army has mobilized nuclear assets. We are tracking them right now.

I don't know what you are talking about.

I promise, Mr. President.

I told you before, Nawaz.

I need to speak with whoever is in charge, whoever runs your country.

I-I am in charge.

I am here with the mandate of the people of Pakistan.

And it's that mandate you're looking to protect by coming here?

Yes, of course.

Let me be very clear.

Unless you came here to announce the unilateral withdraw

of your troops from Indian territory, we don't have much to talk about.

I can withdraw my troops.

But I have to show something to my people, for this conflict.

And only you can help me with this, Mr. President.

Let me get this straight.

You want me to broker your retreat?

I thought you didn't want any outside interference.

Mr. Vajpayee is not taking my calls.

And if I return empty-handed, Mr. President,

the same people who started this fire…

will throw me back in the same fire and burn me.

Mr. Sharif,

the United States

will not be dragged into a civil-military tug of war

between Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

I have two statements here.

One, commend you

for withdrawing troops right way and committing to regional stability.

And the other, condemns you

for illegally occupying Indian soil

and threatening world peace with nuclear weapons.

Call your cabinet.

Take your time.

And decide how you want to be remembered, Mr. Sharif.

After hours of tense negotiations in Washington D.C.,

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced

a unilateral withdrawal of Pakistani troops

from the heights of Kargil.

The Kargil war is now effectively over

and the victory belongs to India.

My sources in the ISI are saying…

that Mr. Nawaz is planning to put the whole blame on you.

They foresee a court-martial.

We've lost this war, Sir.

General Mahmud, you worry unnecessarily.

We've just lost Kargil,

not Pakistan.

You need to remove the fear of court-martial from your mind…

and start preparing to impose martial law in this country.

There are reports of public outrage in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Army maintains that they were winning this war,

and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif bent the knee under American pressure.

The word is spreading fast

and the Prime Minister's effigies are being burnt in many cities.

In the middle of all of this,

the families of the Pakistani soldiers demand answers from their government,

"Are their loved ones alive?"

Sir.

The Pakistan Army is refusing to accept these bodies.

We bury them as per their religion.

Sir, but they are--

They're all soldiers.

They can forget this fact.

But we will not.

There is a difference between them and us.

Right?

Yes, Sir.

Climbing difficult altitudes,

fighting difficult battles,

our brave army has pushed them back,

and showed our enemies

how dangerous it can be to go against India.

Let this be a lesson for them.

When were you going to tell me?

After the delivery?

On the day you didn't have a sortie.

Congratulations, Madhavi.

Thank you, Sir.

Did you hear my jet?

Loud and clear.

The Indian Air Force has played a very important role

in the victory in Kargil.

So how are you all feeling about it?

We are like razor blades.

Wherever we are sent, our job is just to cut through.

Thinking or feeling, that's not what we do.

Sir, when you lost Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja

on the first day of the operation itself,

how did you feel then?

Sir, that's my question as well.

Ahuja Sir could have come back if he wanted to.

But he went beyond the call of duty,

was it the right thing to do according to you?

Because of the decision he made,

we not only lost a jet,

but a valuable pilot as well.

Sir, I just wanted to know your opinion on this.

- Uh… - Sir.

May I?

Sure.

Thank you.

Has any of you ever been in a MiG-21 cockpit?

No, Sir.

Let me tell you what a MiG-21 is

really like for a fighter pilot.

To begin with, imagine being tied to such a seat

that doesn't let you move.

Then imagine a couple hundred controls around you,

and also some 4000 liters of fuel around you.

Just one small spark

can turn the jet around you into a bomb,

and you have no choice but to fly this live bomb

faster than the speed of sound.

One small mistake…

and you can turn into ashes.

This is a MiG-21 fighter pilot's daily reality.

Now I want to ask you, Sir.

If you were in that cockpit that day,

what would have been your first priority?

- To survive. - To survive.

Exactly.

That day in that situation,

Flight Commander Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja

gave someone else's life more priority than his own life.

Nobody has the right…

…to ask whether he made the right call or not.

Any more questions?

No, Sir.

Jai Hind.

Tony?

He's gone to Delhi.

Paperwork.

Happy landings, boys.

Tony?

How are you?

Um, I spoke to Kamal on the phone yesterday.

She didn't tell me you're…

Alka, I…

I'm…

really sorry.

The thing is, I…

I couldn't gather the courage to come and face you earlier.

I keep thinking that I…

I should have been there with Ajay that day.

Maybe if I was there, I'd…

Would you like some coffee?

On the day of the cremation…

I said a lot of things.

Tony, I was just very angry.

But you were absolutely right.

I…

Alka, I broke your trust.

Tony…

You need to forgive yourself.

See, the truth is,

that day, you,

or me, or Ankur…

no one could have stopped Ajay, that's just how he was.

Please, forgive yourself, Tony.

Please.