cuts through Kargil. The military outposts on the ridges above the highway were generally around 5000 m high, with a few as high as 5485 m. The rough terrain and narrow roads slowed down traffic, and the high altitude, which affected the ability of aircraft to carry loads, made control of NH 1 (the actual stretch of the highway which was under Pakistani fire) a priority for India. From their 130+ covertly occupied observation posts, the occupants had a clear line-of-sight.

Kargil was targeted