A high-ranking officer from the Army Headquarters is currently touring the battlefield in Kargil-Drass areas for the purpose. The officer is meeting all units who were involved in the action and is collecting minute details of the offensive.

This is being done to document the first major war after 1971 for students of military history, a Major said.

The Indian Army had experimented several tactics during Operation Vijay, like asking the artillery to play a combat role rather than providing support fire. Moreover for capturing many heights the Army had resorted to multi-dimensional attacks.

By attacking from near-impossible angles, the soldiers had taken the enemy by surprise - a crucial factor behind the success of all infantry attacks.

The basic idea of studying a war and tactics employed is not only to document it, but to convert it into a lesson for future officers. The intention is to publish abook bringing out various facets of the war, an officer said.

The text will be analytical in nature. `For example, whether the machine gun was positioned at the right place or whether the radio should've been with a particular officer, etc, will be studied', a Major pointed out.

The concerned commanders will explain why they had positioned them so. If the same time opinion of defence analysts will also be recorded, `all this will help give finishing touches or to recast existing strategies', pointed out a Lieutenant Colonel.

The role played by other corps like Signals, EME, ASC, etc will be scrutinised and improvements in logistics support will be suggested. The co-ordination of various units will also be looked into.

The manual will also include tales of valour and details of bravery, `Like this doctor, who, despite sustaining splinter injuries continued to treat the wounded on Tiger Hill. He injected himself a dose of painkiller and continued till his replacement came', said an officer.

Moreover,the book will include anecdotes, said a Captain citing an instance when a soldier who had lost his hand asked somebody to tell the time from the watch on his dismembered limb. `Only an Indian soldier can behave so', said a Major, his chest swelling with pride.

The first-hand experiences of the newly commissioned officers will also be specially mentioned.

The book will be of tremendous help to future generation officers. `We will frame exercises based on Operation Vijay', an officer said.

Models like capturing a height on which enemy is well entrenched will be given and cadets will be asked to evolve strategies. `We can always analyse their task against the backdrop of this text book,' opined a Major.

Though Operation Vijay is still on, the special officer has completed the survey in many sectors. `The capture of Tololing is hailed as the most professionally carried out operation,' a Major said adding `it was done with text book precision'.