In Kargil War throwback post, Indian Air Force lauds 'Operation Safed Sagar' as 'trailblazer'

The Indian Air Force marked the anniversary of ‘Operation Safed Sagar’ with a poignant X post on Monday. The mission, which was launched during 1999 Kargil War, turned the tide for India. “This was the first large-scale use of air power in the Kashmir region since the 1971 Indo-Pak War. 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, the IAF said in the post.

Calling the mission a ‘trailblazer,’ the IAF said that “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.”

#ThisDayThatYear | 26 May 1999#OpSafedSagar the Indian Air Forces 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 pic.twitter.com/CtBJvqRqsx
Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 26, 2025

The IAF said that Operation Safed Sagar was a testament of the fact that air power has the power to change the course of a war. "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. It proved that air power could decisively alter the course of battle without crossing international boundaries," the IAF added in the post.

Mirage 2000s, Mig 21s, Mi 17s, Jaguars, Mig 23s, Mig 27s, Chetak and Mig 29s were part of IAF's Operation Safed Sagar.

The conflict unfolded over nearly three months on the icy heights of the Kargil mountains. It began in May when Pakistani soldiers and militants seized strategic peaks in the Kargil region.

In response, India initiated 'Operation Vijay' to recapture the occupied territory, successfully restoring control by July 26 — a date now commemorated as 'Kargil Vijay Diwas'.

The anniversary of Operation Safed Sagar comes shortly after the Indian armed forces carried out airstrikes on Pakistani air bases.