Revisiting Kargil: The story of how the IAF thrashed Pakistan in Operation Safed Sagar
In May 1999, the Indian Air Force was ordered to engage in combat against Pakistani forces during the Kargil conflict. This operation, known as Safed Sagar, required pilots to adapt to high-altitude air-to-ground operations, marking a significant shift in their training and tactics. The IAF's efforts played a crucial role in supporting ground troops and pushing back the intruders occupying strategic heights.
- ▪The Indian Air Force received orders to engage in combat on May 26, 1999, after detecting Pakistani intrusions in Kargil.
- ▪Pilots had to adapt to delivering weapons at extreme altitudes, marking a turning point in their operational capabilities.
- ▪Operation Safed Sagar was initiated to support Indian soldiers fighting against well-entrenched Pakistani troops.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
News/Revisiting Kargil: The story of how the IAF thrashed Pakistan in Operation Safed SagarRevisiting Kargil: The story of how the IAF thrashed Pakistan in Operation Safed SagarDhruv Yadav / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 26, 2026, 22:09 ISTCommentsShareAA+Text SizeSmallMediumLarge In the summer of 1999, after a gap of almost 28 years, the Indian Air Force received orders on May 26 to take the fight to the enemy. The whine of jet engines echoed across airfields in the north — from Srinagar, Awantipur, Pathankot, and Adampur — along with feverish activity across these bases, all driven by a single objective: to push back Pakistani intruders who had occupied heights overlooking National Highway-1A.The extent of the intrusion stretched from Dras in the west to Batalik in the east.The air-to-ground…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Times of India — Top.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Times of India — Top
