While Pakistani regions affected by the Kargil War, such as Kharmang valley, continue to struggle with a lack of compensation from the military for the destruction and changes to use of land post the Kargil War, the Kargil region on the other side of the Line of Control is flourishing with government aid.
Post war, the Army constructed Vijaypath at Drass, a town located between Srinagar and Leh where tourists can see the peak of Tololing and Tiger Hill, both peaks made popular by the fighting on these peaks during the Kargil War. The memorial has become a must-see stop for tourists travelling between Srinagar and Leh with 35,000 people visiting the war memorial in 2013. The locals now earn more as tourist guides than they did by farming and grazing animals before the war. On and around July 26, which is celebrated as Vijay Diwas for the Indian victory in the Kargil War, the Army rents out rooms to accommodate soldiers and their families and media officials, increasing the tourism revenue for the locals.
Furthermore, the government and Army promoted reconstruction and rehabilitation post war by providing relief which provided the capital for the growth of the region. The Army even began Operation Sabvadhana which is a goodwill project started by Lieutenant General Arjun Ray of the 14 Corps in Ladakh for the army personnel to interact and build ties with the community. Through Operation Sabvadhana, the Army helped rebuild homes, provide water supply, healthcare and education to the locals. The Army has even constructed Army schools in at least five locations in Kargil and a school for differently abled children, all of which have free transportation for the children from their homes.
Bank officials at a Jammu and Kashmir Bank branch in Kargil say that the amount in deposits in the bank has risen from 8 crores in 2008 to 65 crores in 2014 due to Army aid with that branch alone making over 1 crore in profit every year. With this development in Drass sector, Drass was elevated to brigade level and the Army stopped leaving the high peaks in the winter owing to the infiltration by Pakistani troops and terrorists during the Kargil War, increasing business for the locals who suffered economically, especially during the winter months when the region becomes inaccessible due to the heavy snow.
However, these changes come with their own disadvantages with a loss of culture and tradition with a shift in the economic activities from traditional growing of crops and raising of farm animals to tourism activities. With Kargil developing and becoming mainstream, the population demands border peace and the reopening of the road that connects Kargil to Skardu, a border region on the Pakistan side of the Line of Control, which may be possible through gradual but persistent integration between India and Pakistan through bilateral talks and treaties.
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