On This Day, IAF Launched 'Operation Safed Sagar' In Kargil | Here's Why It Was A 'Trailblazer'

Last Updated:May 26, 2025, 11:46 IST

The Indian Air Force launched 'Operation Safed Sagar' during the 1999 Kargil war to flush out Pakistani regulars and intruders who had occupied Indian positions along the LoC.

India successfully defeated Pakistani forces and regained all occupied territory during the 1999 Kargil war. (PTI/File)

As the nation celebrates the success of Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday commemorated the anniversary of ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, which was launched during the 1999 Kargil war between India and Pakistan.

Operation Safed Sagar (White Ocean) was the codename assigned to the IAF’s joint action with the Indian Army to “flush out Pakistani regulars and intruders who had occupied Indian positions along the LoC in the Kargil sector". This marked the first large-scale use of air power in J&K since the 1971 conflict.

“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," said the IAF in a post on X.

On May 25, 1999, the IAF was given a go-ahead by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to mount attacks on Pakistani infiltrators without crossing the LoC. Operation Safed Sagar was a milestone in the history of military aviation as it was the first time such an air operation took place in the rugged, high-altitude environment.

The Air Force used MiG-21, MiG-27ML and MiG-23BN fighter jets along with Mirage 2000s, Jaguars and Mi-17 choppers to attack enemy positions and supply lines. It suffered the loss of two aircraft in the initial phase of the strikes and a MiG-27 pilot was captured by Pakistani forces, forcing the IAF to rethink its strategy.

Operation Safed Sagar: A Trailblazer

The air force intensified its attacks on enemy positions, dealing severe damage to enemy personnel and equipment in various areas. Armed and modified Mi-17 choppers were invaluable in their role to neutralise enemy-held positions, and the high degree of IAF-Army coordination changed the tide of the war in India’s favour

“Operation Safed Sagar was a trailblazer in many ways: it saw air power employed in unconventional roles, demonstrated the effectiveness of limited use of air assets in a localised conflict, and shattered the long-held notion that use of air power would inevitably escalate into full-scale war," said the IAF.

The operation showed the versatility and resolve of the air force and displayed he deterrent value of calibrated air strikes, even in a low-intensity conflict. The Armed Forces learned valuable lessons from the conflict, which came handy during future operations, including Operation Sindoor.

Kargil War Of 1999

The Kargil war erupted in 1999 in the Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir when Pakistani soldiers and militants crossed the Line of Control and occupied strategic high-altitude positions on the Indian side, under the guise of Operation Badr. Their aim was to cut off the highway connecting Srinagar to Leh and thereby isolate Ladakh.

India launched Operation Vijay to evict the intruders. Despite the difficult mountainous terrain and harsh weather, the Indian Army, with support from the Air Force, conducted precise and courageous assaults. Fierce battles were fought to recapture key peaks.

By July 26, 1999, India had successfully regained all occupied territory. The conflict ended with Pakistan withdrawing its forces under immense international pressure, especially from the United States.

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