‘Aimed to flush out Pakistani intruders’: IAF on why Operation Safed Sagar was historic | India News

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force on Monday shared a commemorative video marking the anniversary of ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, its 1999 air marketing campaign through the Kargil War in opposition to Pakistan.Operation Safed Sagar was the IAF’s codename for its air operations performed in assist of the Indian Army’s Operation Vijay, which was launched to evict Pakistani troops and infiltrators who had illegally occupied Indian positions alongside the Line of Control (LoC) within the Kargil sector.In a publish on X, the IAF mentioned: “Operation Safed Sagar — the Indian Air Force’s codename for its air operations during the KargilWar1999 — was launched in support of ground forces under Operation Vijay. It aimed to flush out Pakistani regulars and intruders who had occupied Indian positions along the LoC in the Kargil sector.”The operation was historic, being the primary large-scale use of air energy within the Kashmir area because the 1971 Indo-Pak warfare. The IAF executed high-altitude precision operations in among the world’s most difficult mountainous terrain, redefining the function of air energy in restricted conflicts.The IAF additionally shared the listing of plane used throughout Operation Safed Sagar to take on Pakistan within the Kargil War. These included Mirage 2000s, MiG-21s, MiG-29s, MiG-23s, MiG-27s, Jaguars, Mi-17 helicopters, and Chetak helicopters.The IAF talked about: “Never before had an air force been tasked with such high-altitude precision operations in rugged mountainous terrain – making it a watershed moment in military aviation history.”Operation Safed Sagar additionally broke typical excited about air energy. It demonstrated that restricted, focused air strikes might have a decisive impression with out escalating right into a full-scale warfare.“The operation not only showcased the versatility and resolve of the Indian Air Force but also established the deterrent value of calibrated air strikes—even in a low-intensity conflict,” the IAF mentioned.“It proved that air power could decisively alter the course of battle without crossing international boundaries.”The Kargil War lasted from May to July 1999 within the Kargil district of then Jammu and Kashmir, now a part of the Union Territory of Ladakh. The battle started when Pakistani troops and militants infiltrated throughout the LoC. India responded with full pressure, and Operation Vijay led to the profitable recapture of key positions.The IAF’s tribute to Operation Safed Sagar comes weeks after its latest offensive beneath Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike launched on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror assault. In that motion, 9 recognized terrorist hubs sponsored by Pakistan have been destroyed, exhibiting India’s continued calibrated use of air energy in counterterror operations.