Operation Safed Sagar - Revision history

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	==== Details of air operations ====		==== Details of air operations ====

	The [[Indian Air Force\|Indian Air Force (IAF)]] had been carrying out routine Electronic intelligence (ELINT), photo and [[Aerial reconnaissance]] since early May in such weather. On May 21, a [[English Electric Canberra\|Canberra]] PR57 from 106 Squadron on a [[reconnaissance]] mission, flown by Wg Cdr CH Kulkarni, Sqn Ldr A Perumal and Sqn Ldr UK Jha, was hit by a Chinese-made Anza infrared surface-to-air missile.<ref name="carnegieendowment.org">{{cite report \|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/2012/09/20/airpower-at-18-000-indian-air-force-in-kargil-war-pub-49421 \|title=Airpower at 18,000': The Indian Air Force in the Kargil War \|first1=Benjamin \|last1=Lambeth \|date=20 September 2012 \|work=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]]}}<br />{{citation \|title= Airpower at 18,000': The Indian Air Force in the Kargil War\|url= https://carnegieendowment.org/2012/09/20/airpower-at-18-000-indian-air-force-in-kargil-war/dvc4 \|work=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]] \|date=20 September 2012 \|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]}}</ref> The plane returned to the nearest IAF base, Srinagar, on one engine, and the crew landed safely.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> The Indian Govt, intent on not provoking escalation, cleared limited use of offensive and defensive Air Power only on May 25, restricted entirely to the Indian side of the Line of Control.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=IAF planned to bomb targets in Pakistan during Kargil War \|url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/iaf-planned-to-bomb-targets-in-pakistan-during-kargil-war/indias-restraint/slideshow/59769657.cms \|work=[[The Economic Times]] \|date=26 July ~~2022~~}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|title=All you need to know about Kargil War \|url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/all-you-need-to-know-about-kargil-war/kargil-vijay-diwas/slideshow/59772216.cms \|work=[[The Economic Times]] \|date=26 July ~~2022~~}}</ref> There was no opposition at all by the Pakistani Air Force, leaving the IAF free to carry out its attacks with impunity.<ref>{{Cite journal \|title=How The IAF Dominated The Skies During Kargil War \|url=http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/07/how-iaf-dominated-skies-during-kargil.html \|url-status=dead \|journal=Indian Defence News \|date=26 July 2016 \|archive-date=30 July 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730185543/http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/07/how-iaf-dominated-skies-during-kargil.html }}</ref>		The [[Indian Air Force\|Indian Air Force (IAF)]] had been carrying out routine Electronic intelligence (ELINT), photo and [[Aerial reconnaissance]] since early May in such weather. On May 21, a [[English Electric Canberra\|Canberra]] PR57 from 106 Squadron on a [[reconnaissance]] mission, flown by Wg Cdr CH Kulkarni, Sqn Ldr A Perumal and Sqn Ldr UK Jha, was hit by a Chinese-made Anza infrared surface-to-air missile.<ref name="carnegieendowment.org">{{cite report \|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/2012/09/20/airpower-at-18-000-indian-air-force-in-kargil-war-pub-49421 \|title=Airpower at 18,000': The Indian Air Force in the Kargil War \|first1=Benjamin \|last1=Lambeth \|date=20 September 2012 \|work=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]]}}<br />{{citation \|title= Airpower at 18,000': The Indian Air Force in the Kargil War\|url= https://carnegieendowment.org/2012/09/20/airpower-at-18-000-indian-air-force-in-kargil-war/dvc4 \|work=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]] \|date=20 September 2012 \|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]}}</ref> The plane returned to the nearest IAF base, Srinagar, on one engine, and the crew landed safely.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> The Indian Govt, intent on not provoking escalation, cleared limited use of offensive and defensive Air Power only on May 25, restricted entirely to the Indian side of the Line of Control.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=IAF planned to bomb targets in Pakistan during Kargil War \|url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/iaf-planned-to-bomb-targets-in-pakistan-during-kargil-war/indias-restraint/slideshow/59769657.cms \|work=[[The Economic Times]] \|date=26 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|title=All you need to know about Kargil War \|url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/all-you-need-to-know-about-kargil-war/kargil-vijay-diwas/slideshow/59772216.cms \|work=[[The Economic Times]] \|date=26 July 2018}}</ref> There was no opposition at all by the Pakistani Air Force, leaving the IAF free to carry out its attacks with impunity.<ref>{{Cite journal \|title=How The IAF Dominated The Skies During Kargil War \|url=http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/07/how-iaf-dominated-skies-during-kargil.html \|url-status=dead \|journal=Indian Defence News \|date=26 July 2016 \|archive-date=30 July 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730185543/http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/07/how-iaf-dominated-skies-during-kargil.html }}</ref>

	The [[Indian Air Force\|Indian Air Force (IAF)]] flew its first air support missions on 26 May, operating from the Indian airfields of [[Srinagar]], [[Awantipora]] and [[Adampur]]. Ground attack aircraft [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21\|MiG-21s]], [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23\|MiG-23s]], [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27\|MiG-27s]], [[SEPECAT Jaguar\|Jaguars]] and [[helicopter gunship]]s<ref name="BBCN">{{cite news \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/352995.stm \|title=India launches Kashmir air attack \|work=BBC News \|date=26 May 1999}}</ref> struck [[Insurgency\|insurgent]] positions. The [[Dassault Mirage 2000\|Mirage 2000]] fleet was inducted on 30 May.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp">{{Cite journal\|title= The Mirage 2000 in Kargil \|url= http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/kargil/1056-pcamp.html \|url-status= live \|journal=Bharat Rakshak \|date=16 October 2009 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807084357/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Kargil/PCamp.html \|archive-date=7 August 2011 }}<!-- http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Kargil/PCamp.html is the old URL, which is dead --></ref> Although the MiG-21 is built mainly for air interception with a secondary role of ground attack, it is capable of operating in restricted spaces, albeit with limited influence, which was of importance in the Kargil terrain.		The [[Indian Air Force\|Indian Air Force (IAF)]] flew its first air support missions on 26 May, operating from the Indian airfields of [[Srinagar]], [[Awantipora]] and [[Adampur]]. Ground attack aircraft [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21\|MiG-21s]], [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23\|MiG-23s]], [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27\|MiG-27s]], [[SEPECAT Jaguar\|Jaguars]] and [[helicopter gunship]]s<ref name="BBCN">{{cite news \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/352995.stm \|title=India launches Kashmir air attack \|work=BBC News \|date=26 May 1999}}</ref> struck [[Insurgency\|insurgent]] positions. The [[Dassault Mirage 2000\|Mirage 2000]] fleet was inducted on 30 May.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp">{{Cite journal\|title= The Mirage 2000 in Kargil \|url= http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/kargil/1056-pcamp.html \|url-status= live \|journal=Bharat Rakshak \|date=16 October 2009 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807084357/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Kargil/PCamp.html \|archive-date=7 August 2011 }}<!-- http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Kargil/PCamp.html is the old URL, which is dead --></ref> Although the MiG-21 is built mainly for air interception with a secondary role of ground attack, it is capable of operating in restricted spaces, albeit with limited influence, which was of importance in the Kargil terrain.

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2022-11-09T16:30:19Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 22:00, 9 November 2022
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			{{Short description\|1999 Indian military operation}}
			{{multiple issues\|
			{{Third-party\|November 2022\|date=November 2022}}
			{{Puffery\|date=November 2022}}}}
	[[File:MiG-23 Bn Aircraft.jpg\|thumb\|right\|A [[MiG-23]] Bn used in Operation Safed Sagar]]		[[File:MiG-23 Bn Aircraft.jpg\|thumb\|right\|A [[MiG-23]] Bn used in Operation Safed Sagar]]

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	{{campaignbox Indo-Pakistani Wars}}		{{campaignbox Indo-Pakistani Wars}}

	'''Operation Safed Sagar''' ({{lang-hi\|ऑपरेशन सफेद सागर}}, lit. "Operation White ~~Sea~~") was the [[code name]] assigned to the [[Indian Air Force]]'s role in acting jointly with the [[Indian Army]] during the 1999 [[Kargil War\|Kargil war]] that was aimed at flushing out regular and irregular troops of the [[Pakistani Army]] from vacated Indian Positions in the [[Kargil district\|Kargil]] sector along the [[Line of Control]].<ref name="indianairforce.nic.in">http://indianairforce.nic.in/content/op-safed-sagar</ref> It was the first large scale use of [[Airpower]] in the [[Kashmir\|Jammu and Kashmir]] region since the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]].		'''Operation Safed Sagar''' ({{lang-hi\|ऑपरेशन सफेद सागर}}, lit. "Operation White Ocean") was the [[code name]] assigned to the [[Indian Air Force]]'s role in acting jointly with the [[Indian Army]] during the 1999 [[Kargil War\|Kargil war]] that was aimed at flushing out regular and irregular troops of the [[Pakistani Army]] from vacated Indian Positions in the [[Kargil district\|Kargil]] sector along the [[Line of Control]].<ref name="indianairforce.nic.in">http://indianairforce.nic.in/content/op-safed-sagar {{Bare URL inline\|date=April 2022}}</ref> It was the first large scale use of [[Airpower]] in the [[Kashmir\|Jammu and Kashmir]] region since the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]].

	==Operations==		==Operations==
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	{{main\|Kargil War}}		{{main\|Kargil War}}

	Initial infiltrations were noticed in [[Kargil district\|Kargil]] in early May, 1999. Because of the extreme winter weather in Kashmir, it was common practice for the Indian and Pakistan Army to abandon forward posts and reoccupy them in the spring. That particular spring, the Pakistan Army started reoccupying the forward posts well before the scheduled time. In a preliminary step in their bid to capture Kashmir, they reoccupied not only their own posts, but also 132 posts that belonged to India.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti_xPBoC8hY</ref>		'''Initial infiltrations were noticed in [[Kargil district\|Kargil]] in early May, 1999'''. Because of the extreme winter weather in Kashmir, it was common practice for the Indian and Pakistan Army to abandon forward posts and reoccupy them in the spring. That particular spring, the Pakistan Army started reoccupying the forward posts well before the scheduled time. In a preliminary step in their bid to capture Kashmir, they reoccupied not only their own posts, but also 132 posts that belonged to India.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti_xPBoC8hY\|title = Guns and Glory Episode 7: 1999 Indo-Pak War in Kargil, Part 1\|website = [[YouTube]]}}</ref>

	By the second week of May, an [[ambush]] on an Indian army [[patrol]] acting on a tip-off by a local [[shepherd]] in the [[Batalik]] sector led to the exposure of the infiltration. Initially with little knowledge of the nature or extent of the encroachment, the Indian troops in the area initially claimed that they would evict them within a few days. However, reports of infiltration elsewhere along the LoC soon made it clear that the entire plan of attack was on a much bigger scale. [[Government of India\|India]] responded with [[Operation Vijay (1999)\|Operation Vijay]], a mobilisation of 200,000 Indian troops. However, because of the nature of the terrain, [[division (military)\|division]] and [[corps]] operations could not be mounted; the scale of most fighting was at the [[regiment]]al or battalion level. In effect, two [[Division (military)\|divisions]] of the Indian Army,<ref>{{cite journal \|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE4-6/malik.html \|url-status=dead\|title=Lessons from Kargil. \|first1=V.P. \|last1=Malik \|journal=Bharat-Rakshak Monitor \|issue=May–June 2002 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408082728/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE4-6/malik.html \|archive-date=8 April 2009 }}</ref> numbering 20,000, along with several thousand from the [[Paramilitary forces of India]] and the air force were deployed in the conflict zone.		By the second week of May, an [[ambush]] on an Indian army [[patrol]] acting on a tip-off by a local [[shepherd]] in the [[Batalik]] sector led to the exposure of the infiltration. Initially with little knowledge of the nature or extent of the encroachment, the Indian troops in the area initially claimed that they would evict them within a few days. However, reports of infiltration elsewhere along the LoC soon made it clear that the entire plan of attack was on a much bigger scale. [[Government of India\|India]] responded with [[Operation Vijay (1999)\|Operation Vijay]], a mobilisation of 200,000 Indian troops. However, because of the nature of the terrain, [[division (military)\|division]] and [[corps]] operations could not be mounted; the scale of most fighting was at the [[regiment]]al or battalion level. In effect, two [[Division (military)\|divisions]] of the Indian Army,<ref>{{cite journal \|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE4-6/malik.html \|url-status=dead\|title=Lessons from Kargil. \|first1=V.P. \|last1=Malik \|journal=Bharat-Rakshak Monitor \|issue=May–June 2002 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408082728/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE4-6/malik.html \|archive-date=8 April 2009 }}</ref> numbering 20,000, along with several thousand from the [[Paramilitary forces of India]] and the air force were deployed in the conflict zone.
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	====Summary of air operations====		====Summary of air operations====
	Breakdown of Total Number of Sorties Flown by Aircraft Type:<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://vayu-sena.tripod.com/kargil-summary1.html/ \|title=Kargil War, Progress of Air Operations \|work=VayuSena}}<br>States that the ''IAF and MoD Annual Report'' are the sources for this data.</ref>		Breakdown of Total Number of Sorties Flown by Aircraft Type:<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://vayu-sena.tripod.com/kargil-summary1.html/ \|title=Kargil War, Progress of Air Operations \|work=VayuSena}}<br />States that the ''IAF and MoD Annual Report'' are the sources for this data.</ref>
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
	\|-		\|-
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	\| Transport \|\| 3427 \|\| 44.9%		\| Transport \|\| 3427 \|\| 44.9%
	\|-		\|-
	\| ~~Heptrs~~ \|\| 2474 \|\| 32.4%		\| Helicopters \|\| 2474 \|\| 32.4%
	\|-		\|-
	\| Fighters \|\| 1730 \|\| 22.7%		\| Fighters \|\| 1730 \|\| 22.7%
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	==== Details of air operations ====		==== Details of air operations ====

	The [[Indian Air Force\|Indian Air Force (IAF)]] had been carrying out routine Electronic intelligence (ELINT), photo and [[Aerial reconnaissance]] since early May in such weather. On May 21, a [[English Electric Canberra\|Canberra]] PR57 from 106 Squadron on a [[reconnaissance]] mission, flown by Wg Cdr CH Kulkarni, Sqn Ldr A Perumal and Sqn Ldr UK Jha, was hit by a Chinese-made Anza infrared surface-to-air missile.<ref name="carnegieendowment.org">{{cite report \|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/2012/09/20/airpower-at-18-000-indian-air-force-in-kargil-war-pub-49421 \|title=Airpower at 18,~~000’~~: The Indian Air Force in the Kargil War \|first1=Benjamin \|last1=Lambeth \|date=20 September 2012 \|work=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]]}}<br>{{citation \|title= Airpower at 18,000': The Indian Air Force in the Kargil War\|url= https://carnegieendowment.org/2012/09/20/airpower-at-18-000-indian-air-force-in-kargil-war/dvc4 \|work=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]] \|date=20 September 2012 \|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]}}</ref> The plane returned to the nearest IAF base, Srinagar, on one engine, and the crew landed safely.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> The Indian Govt, intent on not provoking escalation, cleared limited use of offensive and defensive Air Power only on May 25, restricted entirely to the Indian side of the Line of Control.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=IAF planned to bomb targets in Pakistan during Kargil War \|url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/iaf-planned-to-bomb-targets-in-pakistan-during-kargil-war/indias-restraint/slideshow/59769657.cms \|work=[[The Economic Times]] \|date=26 July ~~2017~~}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|title=All you need to know about Kargil War \|url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/all-you-need-to-know-about-kargil-war/kargil-vijay-diwas/slideshow/59772216.cms \|work=[[The Economic Times]] \|date=26 July ~~2018~~}}</ref> There was no opposition at all by the Pakistani Air Force, leaving the IAF free to carry out its attacks with impunity.<ref>{{Cite journal \|title=How The IAF Dominated The Skies During Kargil War \|url=http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/07/how-iaf-dominated-skies-during-kargil.html \|url-status=dead \|journal=Indian Defence News \|date=26 July 2016 \|archive-date=30 July 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730185543/http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/07/how-iaf-dominated-skies-during-kargil.html }}</ref>		The [[Indian Air Force\|Indian Air Force (IAF)]] had been carrying out routine Electronic intelligence (ELINT), photo and [[Aerial reconnaissance]] since early May in such weather. On May 21, a [[English Electric Canberra\|Canberra]] PR57 from 106 Squadron on a [[reconnaissance]] mission, flown by Wg Cdr CH Kulkarni, Sqn Ldr A Perumal and Sqn Ldr UK Jha, was hit by a Chinese-made Anza infrared surface-to-air missile.<ref name="carnegieendowment.org">{{cite report \|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/2012/09/20/airpower-at-18-000-indian-air-force-in-kargil-war-pub-49421 \|title=Airpower at 18,000': The Indian Air Force in the Kargil War \|first1=Benjamin \|last1=Lambeth \|date=20 September 2012 \|work=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]]}}<br />{{citation \|title= Airpower at 18,000': The Indian Air Force in the Kargil War\|url= https://carnegieendowment.org/2012/09/20/airpower-at-18-000-indian-air-force-in-kargil-war/dvc4 \|work=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]] \|date=20 September 2012 \|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]}}</ref> The plane returned to the nearest IAF base, Srinagar, on one engine, and the crew landed safely.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> The Indian Govt, intent on not provoking escalation, cleared limited use of offensive and defensive Air Power only on May 25, restricted entirely to the Indian side of the Line of Control.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=IAF planned to bomb targets in Pakistan during Kargil War \|url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/iaf-planned-to-bomb-targets-in-pakistan-during-kargil-war/indias-restraint/slideshow/59769657.cms \|work=[[The Economic Times]] \|date=26 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|title=All you need to know about Kargil War \|url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/all-you-need-to-know-about-kargil-war/kargil-vijay-diwas/slideshow/59772216.cms \|work=[[The Economic Times]] \|date=26 July 2022}}</ref> There was no opposition at all by the Pakistani Air Force, leaving the IAF free to carry out its attacks with impunity.<ref>{{Cite journal \|title=How The IAF Dominated The Skies During Kargil War \|url=http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/07/how-iaf-dominated-skies-during-kargil.html \|url-status=dead \|journal=Indian Defence News \|date=26 July 2016 \|archive-date=30 July 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730185543/http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/07/how-iaf-dominated-skies-during-kargil.html }}</ref>

	The [[Indian Air Force\|Indian Air Force (IAF)]] flew its first air support missions on 26 May, operating from the Indian airfields of [[Srinagar]], [[Awantipora]] and [[Adampur]]. Ground attack aircraft [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21\|MiG-21s]], [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23\|MiG-23s]], [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27\|MiG-27s]], [[SEPECAT Jaguar\|Jaguars]] and [[helicopter gunship]]s<ref name="BBCN">{{cite news \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/352995.stm \|title=India launches Kashmir air attack \|work=BBC News \|date=26 May 1999}}</ref> struck [[Insurgency\|insurgent]] positions. The [[Dassault Mirage 2000\|Mirage 2000]] fleet was inducted on 30 May.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp">{{Cite journal\|title= The Mirage 2000 in Kargil \|url= http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/kargil/1056-pcamp.html \|url-status= live \|journal=Bharat Rakshak \|date=16 October 2009 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807084357/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Kargil/PCamp.html \|archive-date=7 August 2011 }}<!-- http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Kargil/PCamp.html is the old URL, which is dead --></ref> Although the MiG-21 is built mainly for air interception with a secondary role of ground attack, it is capable of operating in restricted spaces, albeit with limited influence, which was of importance in the Kargil terrain.		The [[Indian Air Force\|Indian Air Force (IAF)]] flew its first air support missions on 26 May, operating from the Indian airfields of [[Srinagar]], [[Awantipora]] and [[Adampur]]. Ground attack aircraft [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21\|MiG-21s]], [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23\|MiG-23s]], [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27\|MiG-27s]], [[SEPECAT Jaguar\|Jaguars]] and [[helicopter gunship]]s<ref name="BBCN">{{cite news \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/352995.stm \|title=India launches Kashmir air attack \|work=BBC News \|date=26 May 1999}}</ref> struck [[Insurgency\|insurgent]] positions. The [[Dassault Mirage 2000\|Mirage 2000]] fleet was inducted on 30 May.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp">{{Cite journal\|title= The Mirage 2000 in Kargil \|url= http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/kargil/1056-pcamp.html \|url-status= live \|journal=Bharat Rakshak \|date=16 October 2009 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807084357/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Kargil/PCamp.html \|archive-date=7 August 2011 }}<!-- http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Kargil/PCamp.html is the old URL, which is dead --></ref> Although the MiG-21 is built mainly for air interception with a secondary role of ground attack, it is capable of operating in restricted spaces, albeit with limited influence, which was of importance in the Kargil terrain.
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	Starting May 30, the [[Laser-guided bomb\|LGB]] capable [[Mirage 2000]], which was deemed the best aircraft in the IAF inventory capable of optimum performance under the conditions of high-altitude seen in the zone of conflict, was used extensively. Armed initially with 250 kg "dumb" bombs,<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> [[No. 7 Squadron IAF\|No. 7 Squadron]] led by Wg Cdr Sandeep Chabra, struck over three days infiltrator positions in Muntho Dhalo, [[Tiger Hill, Kargil\|Tiger Hill]] and Point 4388 in the Drass Sector. The receding snowline in June laid bare the hitherto camouflaged Pakistani positions, opening them up to non-stop day and night attacks by the Mirage 2000 and, subsequently, all aircraft.		Starting May 30, the [[Laser-guided bomb\|LGB]] capable [[Mirage 2000]], which was deemed the best aircraft in the IAF inventory capable of optimum performance under the conditions of high-altitude seen in the zone of conflict, was used extensively. Armed initially with 250 kg "dumb" bombs,<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> [[No. 7 Squadron IAF\|No. 7 Squadron]] led by Wg Cdr Sandeep Chabra, struck over three days infiltrator positions in Muntho Dhalo, [[Tiger Hill, Kargil\|Tiger Hill]] and Point 4388 in the Drass Sector. The receding snowline in June laid bare the hitherto camouflaged Pakistani positions, opening them up to non-stop day and night attacks by the Mirage 2000 and, subsequently, all aircraft.
			[[File:IAF Mirage 2000.jpg \| thumb\|220x124px \| right \| IAF Mirage 2000 was used extensively in Air operations during Kargil war]]
	Through the last weeks of June, the Mirages, armed with LGBs as well as with "dumbs", repeatedly struck the heavily defended [[Tiger Hill, Kargil\|Tiger Hill]]. Only 9 LGBs were used in this war, 8 by the Mirage and one by a Jaguar,<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> as the dumb bombs proved highly effective. The first of the LGB missions on June 24 were observed by the (then) [[Air Chief Marshal\|Chief of Air Staff]], ACM AY Tipnis.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> All LGBs were delivered by two-seaters, with the rear-seat pilot doubling up as a WSO.		Through the last weeks of June, the Mirages, armed with LGBs as well as with "dumbs", repeatedly struck the heavily defended [[Tiger Hill, Kargil\|Tiger Hill]]. Only 9 LGBs were used in this war, 8 by the Mirage and one by a Jaguar,<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> as the dumb bombs proved highly effective. The first of the LGB missions on June 24 were observed by the (then) [[Air Chief Marshal\|Chief of Air Staff]], ACM AY Tipnis.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> All LGBs were delivered by two-seaters, with the rear-seat pilot doubling up as a WSO.

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	{{military of Pakistan}}		{{military of Pakistan}}

	[[Category:Battles of Indo-Pakistani wars]]		[[Category:Battles of Indo-Pakistani wars\|Safed Sagar]]
	[[Category:Kargil War]]		[[Category:Kargil War]]
	[[Category:1999 in India]]		[[Category:1999 in India]]
	[[Category:History of the Indian Air Force]]		[[Category:History of the Indian Air Force]]
	[[Category:Military operations involving India]]		[[Category:Military operations involving India\|Safed Sagar]]

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Aftermath: Added new content

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	[[File:MiG-23 Bn Aircraft.jpg\|thumb\|right\| [[MiG-23]] Bn used in Operation Safed Sagar]]		[[File:MiG-23 Bn Aircraft.jpg\|thumb\|right\|A [[MiG-23]] Bn used in Operation Safed Sagar]]

	{{campaignbox Kargil War}}		{{campaignbox Kargil War}}
	{{campaignbox Indo-Pakistani Wars}}		{{campaignbox Indo-Pakistani Wars}}

	'''Operation Safed Sagar''' ({{lang-hi\|ऑपरेशन सफेद सागर}}, lit. "Operation White Sea") was the [[code name]] assigned to the [[Indian Air Force]]'s role in acting jointly with the [[Indian Army~~\|Ground troops~~]] during the 1999 [[Kargil War\|Kargil war]] that was aimed at flushing out regular and irregular troops of the [[Pakistani Army]] from vacated Indian Positions in the [[Kargil district\|Kargil]] sector along the [[Line of Control]].<ref name="indianairforce.nic.in">http://indianairforce.nic.in/content/op-safed-sagar</ref> It was the first large scale use of [[Airpower]] in the [[Kashmir\|Jammu and Kashmir]] region since the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]].		'''Operation Safed Sagar''' ({{lang-hi\|ऑपरेशन सफेद सागर}}, lit. "Operation White Sea") was the [[code name]] assigned to the [[Indian Air Force]]'s role in acting jointly with the [[Indian Army]] during the 1999 [[Kargil War\|Kargil war]] that was aimed at flushing out regular and irregular troops of the [[Pakistani Army]] from vacated Indian Positions in the [[Kargil district\|Kargil]] sector along the [[Line of Control]].<ref name="indianairforce.nic.in">http://indianairforce.nic.in/content/op-safed-sagar</ref> It was the first large scale use of [[Airpower]] in the [[Kashmir\|Jammu and Kashmir]] region since the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]].

	==Operations==		==Operations==
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	==Aftermath==		==Aftermath==
	The lessons learned in this limited war influenced ~~India~~ to ~~urgently~~ upgrade its combat fleet. It acquired and later started co-developing [[Sukhoi]] [[Su-30MKI]] heavy fighters with Russia beginning in the early 2000s. ~~The process~~ of ~~acquiring~~ [[~~Indian MRCA competition\|126 Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft~~]] was also ~~initiated in 2001~~.		The lessons learned in this limited war influenced Indian Air Force to upgrade its combat fleet. It acquired and later started co-developing [[Sukhoi]] [[Su-30MKI]] heavy fighters with Russia beginning in the early 2000s. Development of [[HAL Tejas]] was also accelerated. {{Citation needed\|date=August 2021}}

	==See also==		==See also==
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	*{{citation \|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/arkargil/news.htm \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212014057/http://indianarmy.nic.in/arkargil/news.htm \|archive-date=12 February 2006 \|date=15 July 1999 \|title=Kargil Update, Indian Air Force. Periodic Updates – Operation Safed Sagar \|work=Indian Army, Government of India}}		*{{citation \|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/arkargil/news.htm \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212014057/http://indianarmy.nic.in/arkargil/news.htm \|archive-date=12 February 2006 \|date=15 July 1999 \|title=Kargil Update, Indian Air Force. Periodic Updates – Operation Safed Sagar \|work=Indian Army, Government of India}}
	*{{cite journal \|url=http://mod.nic.in/samachar/oct01-02/html/ch2.htm \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717064424/http://mod.nic.in/samachar/oct01-02/html/ch2.htm \|archive-date=17 July 2012 \|title=Operation Safed Sagar: A Doctrine Rewritten \|journal=[[Sainik Samachar]] \|issue=October 2001}}		*{{cite journal \|url=http://mod.nic.in/samachar/oct01-02/html/ch2.htm \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717064424/http://mod.nic.in/samachar/oct01-02/html/ch2.htm \|archive-date=17 July 2012 \|title=Operation Safed Sagar: A Doctrine Rewritten \|journal=[[Sainik Samachar]] \|issue=October 2001}}

			{{military of Pakistan}}

	[[Category:Battles of Indo-Pakistani wars]]		[[Category:Battles of Indo-Pakistani wars]]

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External links

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	*{{citation \|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/arkargil/news.htm \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212014057/http://indianarmy.nic.in/arkargil/news.htm \|archive-date=12 February 2006 \|date=15 July 1999 \|title=Kargil Update, Indian Air Force. Periodic Updates – Operation Safed Sagar \|work=Indian Army, Government of India}}		*{{citation \|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/arkargil/news.htm \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212014057/http://indianarmy.nic.in/arkargil/news.htm \|archive-date=12 February 2006 \|date=15 July 1999 \|title=Kargil Update, Indian Air Force. Periodic Updates – Operation Safed Sagar \|work=Indian Army, Government of India}}
	*{{cite journal \|url=http://mod.nic.in/samachar/oct01-02/html/ch2.htm \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717064424/http://mod.nic.in/samachar/oct01-02/html/ch2.htm \|archive-date=17 July 2012 \|title=Operation Safed Sagar: A Doctrine Rewritten \|journal=[[Sainik Samachar]] \|issue=October 2001}}		*{{cite journal \|url=http://mod.nic.in/samachar/oct01-02/html/ch2.htm \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717064424/http://mod.nic.in/samachar/oct01-02/html/ch2.htm \|archive-date=17 July 2012 \|title=Operation Safed Sagar: A Doctrine Rewritten \|journal=[[Sainik Samachar]] \|issue=October 2001}}

	~~{{military of Pakistan}}~~

	[[Category:Battles of Indo-Pakistani wars]]		[[Category:Battles of Indo-Pakistani wars]]

Pradip89: Created page with " [[MiG-23 Bn used in Operation Safed Sagar]] {{campaignbox Kargil War}} {{campaignbox Indo-Pakistani Wars}} '''Operation Safed Sa..."

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Created page with "thumb|right| [[MiG-23 Bn used in Operation Safed Sagar]] {{campaignbox Kargil War}} {{campaignbox Indo-Pakistani Wars}} '''Operation Safed Sa..."

New page

[[File:MiG-23 Bn Aircraft.jpg|thumb|right| [[MiG-23]] Bn used in Operation Safed Sagar]]

{{campaignbox Kargil War}}
{{campaignbox Indo-Pakistani Wars}}

'''Operation Safed Sagar''' ({{lang-hi|ऑपरेशन सफेद सागर}}, lit. "Operation White Sea") was the [[code name]] assigned to the [[Indian Air Force]]'s role in acting jointly with the [[Indian Army|Ground troops]] during the 1999 [[Kargil War|Kargil war]] that was aimed at flushing out regular and irregular troops of the [[Pakistani Army]] from vacated Indian Positions in the [[Kargil district|Kargil]] sector along the [[Line of Control]].<ref name="indianairforce.nic.in">http://indianairforce.nic.in/content/op-safed-sagar</ref> It was the first large scale use of [[Airpower]] in the [[Kashmir|Jammu and Kashmir]] region since the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]].

==Operations==

===Ground operations===
{{main|Kargil War}}

Initial infiltrations were noticed in [[Kargil district|Kargil]] in early May, 1999. Because of the extreme winter weather in Kashmir, it was common practice for the Indian and Pakistan Army to abandon forward posts and reoccupy them in the spring. That particular spring, the Pakistan Army started reoccupying the forward posts well before the scheduled time. In a preliminary step in their bid to capture Kashmir, they reoccupied not only their own posts, but also 132 posts that belonged to India.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti_xPBoC8hY</ref>

By the second week of May, an [[ambush]] on an Indian army [[patrol]] acting on a tip-off by a local [[shepherd]] in the [[Batalik]] sector led to the exposure of the infiltration. Initially with little knowledge of the nature or extent of the encroachment, the Indian troops in the area initially claimed that they would evict them within a few days. However, reports of infiltration elsewhere along the LoC soon made it clear that the entire plan of attack was on a much bigger scale. [[Government of India|India]] responded with [[Operation Vijay (1999)|Operation Vijay]], a mobilisation of 200,000 Indian troops. However, because of the nature of the terrain, [[division (military)|division]] and [[corps]] operations could not be mounted; the scale of most fighting was at the [[regiment]]al or battalion level. In effect, two [[Division (military)|divisions]] of the Indian Army,<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE4-6/malik.html |url-status=dead|title=Lessons from Kargil. |first1=V.P. |last1=Malik |journal=Bharat-Rakshak Monitor |issue=May–June 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408082728/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE4-6/malik.html |archive-date=8 April 2009 }}</ref> numbering 20,000, along with several thousand from the [[Paramilitary forces of India]] and the air force were deployed in the conflict zone.
the [[Indian Army]] moved into the region in full force. The intruders were found to be well entrenched and while artillery attacks had produced results in certain areas, more remote ones needed the help of the air force. To avoid the escalation, the [[Government of India]] (GoI) cleared only limited use of Air Power on May 25, more than three weeks after first reports, with the instructions that IAF fighter jets will remain within Indian territory to launch attack on intruder's position within Indian territory and IAF was not permitted to cross the Line of Control under any circumstance.

===Air operations===

====Summary of air operations====
Breakdown of Total Number of Sorties Flown by Aircraft Type:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vayu-sena.tripod.com/kargil-summary1.html/ |title=Kargil War, Progress of Air Operations |work=VayuSena}}<br>States that the ''IAF and MoD Annual Report'' are the sources for this data.</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Type !! Number of Sorties !! % Effort
|-
| Transport || 3427 || 44.9%
|-
| Heptrs || 2474 || 32.4%
|-
| Fighters || 1730 || 22.7%
|-
| Total || 7831 ||
|}
Breakdown of Air Operations by Task (Fast Jets)
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Role !! Number of Sorties !! % Effort
|-
| Air Strikes || 578 || 48%
|-
| CAP & Escort || 462 || 39%
|-
| Recce || 159 || 13%
|-
| Total || 1199 ||
|}

==== Details of air operations ====

The [[Indian Air Force|Indian Air Force (IAF)]] had been carrying out routine Electronic intelligence (ELINT), photo and [[Aerial reconnaissance]] since early May in such weather. On May 21, a [[English Electric Canberra|Canberra]] PR57 from 106 Squadron on a [[reconnaissance]] mission, flown by Wg Cdr CH Kulkarni, Sqn Ldr A Perumal and Sqn Ldr UK Jha, was hit by a Chinese-made Anza infrared surface-to-air missile.<ref name="carnegieendowment.org">{{cite report |url=https://carnegieendowment.org/2012/09/20/airpower-at-18-000-indian-air-force-in-kargil-war-pub-49421 |title=Airpower at 18,000’: The Indian Air Force in the Kargil War |first1=Benjamin |last1=Lambeth |date=20 September 2012 |work=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]]}}<br>{{citation |title= Airpower at 18,000': The Indian Air Force in the Kargil War|url= https://carnegieendowment.org/2012/09/20/airpower-at-18-000-indian-air-force-in-kargil-war/dvc4 |work=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]] |date=20 September 2012 |location=[[Washington, D.C.]]}}</ref> The plane returned to the nearest IAF base, Srinagar, on one engine, and the crew landed safely.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> The Indian Govt, intent on not provoking escalation, cleared limited use of offensive and defensive Air Power only on May 25, restricted entirely to the Indian side of the Line of Control.<ref>{{Cite news|title=IAF planned to bomb targets in Pakistan during Kargil War |url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/iaf-planned-to-bomb-targets-in-pakistan-during-kargil-war/indias-restraint/slideshow/59769657.cms |work=[[The Economic Times]] |date=26 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=All you need to know about Kargil War |url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/all-you-need-to-know-about-kargil-war/kargil-vijay-diwas/slideshow/59772216.cms |work=[[The Economic Times]] |date=26 July 2018}}</ref> There was no opposition at all by the Pakistani Air Force, leaving the IAF free to carry out its attacks with impunity.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=How The IAF Dominated The Skies During Kargil War |url=http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/07/how-iaf-dominated-skies-during-kargil.html |url-status=dead |journal=Indian Defence News |date=26 July 2016 |archive-date=30 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730185543/http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/07/how-iaf-dominated-skies-during-kargil.html }}</ref>

The [[Indian Air Force|Indian Air Force (IAF)]] flew its first air support missions on 26 May, operating from the Indian airfields of [[Srinagar]], [[Awantipora]] and [[Adampur]]. Ground attack aircraft [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21s]], [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23|MiG-23s]], [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27|MiG-27s]], [[SEPECAT Jaguar|Jaguars]] and [[helicopter gunship]]s<ref name="BBCN">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/352995.stm |title=India launches Kashmir air attack |work=BBC News |date=26 May 1999}}</ref> struck [[Insurgency|insurgent]] positions. The [[Dassault Mirage 2000|Mirage 2000]] fleet was inducted on 30 May.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp">{{Cite journal|title= The Mirage 2000 in Kargil |url= http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/kargil/1056-pcamp.html |url-status= live |journal=Bharat Rakshak |date=16 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807084357/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Kargil/PCamp.html |archive-date=7 August 2011 }}</ref> Although the MiG-21 is built mainly for air interception with a secondary role of ground attack, it is capable of operating in restricted spaces, albeit with limited influence, which was of importance in the Kargil terrain.

The initial strikes had the Air Defence versions of the [[MiG-21]]s and (later) [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29|MiG-29s]] providing fighter cover. [[Mil Mi-17]] gunships were also deployed in the Tololing sector.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> [[Srinagar]] [[Airport]] was at this time closed to civilian air-traffic and dedicated to the Indian Air Force.<ref name=BBCN/>

The first fatality was suffered on May 27 when a [[MiG-27]] crashed due to engine flame-out and a [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21]] was shot down by the Pakistan Army, both over Batalik sector.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/354120.stm |title=India loses two jets |work=BBC News |date=27 May 1999}}</ref><ref name="telegraph">{{cite news
|url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060522/asp/frontpage/story_6254165.asp |url-status=dead|title = Flyer pushes frontier again – Nachiketa returns to area where his plane was shot down
|access-date = 18 September 2006 |work =[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)]] |date=22 May 2006 |first1=Sujan |last1=Dutta |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630215528/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1060522/asp/frontpage/story_6254165.asp |archive-date=30 June 2007 }}</ref> The MiG-27, piloted by then [[Kambampati Nachiketa|Flt Lt K Nachiketa]], suffered an engine [[flameout]] due to the ingestion of the exhaust gas of the weapons fired. [[Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja]], who was escorting Nachiketa in his [[MiG-21]] tried to trace the downed MiG-27 despite the potent threat in the form of enemy Surface to Air Missiles and his plane was shot down by a [[FIM-92 Stinger|Stinger]] shoulder fired missile. It is believed by the Indian military that he survived the crash but was killed by [[Pakistan Army]] soldiers or irregulars. The body of Ahuja bore two point-blank bullet wounds as per the postmortem done by the Indian authorities. The point-blank injuries clearly indicated the intent of the enemy and the treatment a violation of Geneva conventions. Flt Lt Nachiketa was later paraded on Pakistan TV; this prompted India to accuse Pakistan of violating the [[Geneva convention]] on the treatment of [[Prisoners of War]].

The following day, a Mi-17 was shot down- with the loss of all four of the crew- when it was hit by three [[FIM-92 Stinger|Stinger missiles]] while on an offensive sortie in the Tololing sector.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> These losses forced the Indian Air Force to reassess its strategy. The helicopters were immediately withdrawn from offensive roles as a measure against the [[Man-portable air-defense system]] (MANPADS or MPADS) in possession of the infiltrators.

Starting May 30, the [[Laser-guided bomb|LGB]] capable [[Mirage 2000]], which was deemed the best aircraft in the IAF inventory capable of optimum performance under the conditions of high-altitude seen in the zone of conflict, was used extensively. Armed initially with 250 kg "dumb" bombs,<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> [[No. 7 Squadron IAF|No. 7 Squadron]] led by Wg Cdr Sandeep Chabra, struck over three days infiltrator positions in Muntho Dhalo, [[Tiger Hill, Kargil|Tiger Hill]] and Point 4388 in the Drass Sector. The receding snowline in June laid bare the hitherto camouflaged Pakistani positions, opening them up to non-stop day and night attacks by the Mirage 2000 and, subsequently, all aircraft.

Through the last weeks of June, the Mirages, armed with LGBs as well as with "dumbs", repeatedly struck the heavily defended [[Tiger Hill, Kargil|Tiger Hill]]. Only 9 LGBs were used in this war, 8 by the Mirage and one by a Jaguar,<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> as the dumb bombs proved highly effective. The first of the LGB missions on June 24 were observed by the (then) [[Air Chief Marshal|Chief of Air Staff]], ACM AY Tipnis.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> All LGBs were delivered by two-seaters, with the rear-seat pilot doubling up as a WSO.

The Mirage 2000 proved its worth in this war. Such was its accuracy with dumb bombs that an LGB-equipped two-seater would join up as the tail of a 2 or 4-ship formation of other Mirages carrying between 6-12 dumb bombs each, film their attacks, and only if the results were less than optimal, or if it had spotted a Command and Control bunker on its [[Litening]] sensor / camera, let loose its LGB.<ref name="Bharat-rakshak-PCamp"/> The IAF therefore used the LGB selectively.

All aircraft operated at an altitude of 9-10,000 metres, (~30-33,000 feet above [[sea level]]), diving when required and pulling out well out of MANPADs range. The low number of airstrips for take off and landing of the flights also constrained the regularity and efficiency of the attacks. Despite this, there were hundreds of sorties on the intruders with no further material or personnel casualties enabling a gradual takeover of the mountain posts by Indian troops. According to the IAF, the "air strikes against the Pakistani infiltrators, supply camps and other targets yielded rich dividends."<ref name="indianairforce.nic.in"/>

All remaining intruders were withdrawn and the operation was ended, being declared a success by the IAF in having achieved its primary objectives. However, there has also been criticism of the methods initially used and the type of planes being unsuitable to the terrain that resulted in early losses. [http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/jun/15iype.htm] This is believed by many in the Air force as coming as a wake up call to upgrade the ageing fleet of aircraft (especially the attack aircraft and helicopters) to better enable them to fight in the mountainous region. But, in the context of the war and in light of the poor information available on the infiltrations, the Indian Air Force was able to coordinate well with the Army and provide air support to the recapture of most of the posts before Pakistan decided to withdraw its remaining troops.

==Aftermath==
The lessons learned in this limited war influenced India to urgently upgrade its combat fleet. It acquired and later started co-developing [[Sukhoi]] [[Su-30MKI]] heavy fighters with Russia beginning in the early 2000s. The process of acquiring [[Indian MRCA competition|126 Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft]] was also initiated in 2001.

==See also==

; AGPL (Actual Ground Position Line), south to north runs through the following:
* [[NJ9842]], LoC ends and AGPL begins
* [[Gyong La]]
* [[Chumik Glacier]]
* [[Saltoro Mountains]]
* [[Saltoro Kangri]]
* [[Ghent Kangri]]
* [[Bilafond La]]
* [[Sia La]]
* [[Indira Col]], AGPL ends at LAC

; Borders
* [[Actual Ground Position Line]] (AGPL)
* [[India–Pakistan border|India–Pakistan International Border]] (IB)
* [[Line of Control]] (LoC)
* [[Line of Actual Control]] (LAC)
* [[Sir Creek]] (SC)
* [[Borders of China]]
* [[Borders of India]]
* [[:Category:Borders of Pakistan|Borders of Pakistan]]

; Conflicts
* [[Kashmir conflict]]
* [[Siachen conflict]]
* [[Sino-Indian War|Sino-Indian conflict]]
* [[:Category:Territorial disputes of China|List of disputed territories of China]]
* [[List of disputed territories of India]]
* [[:Category:Territorial disputes of Pakistan|List of disputed territories of Pakistan]]
* [[Northern Areas]]
* [[Trans-Karakoram Tract]]

; Operations
* [[Operation Meghdoot]], by India
* [[Operation Rajiv]], by India

; Other related topics
* [[Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces]]
* [[Bana Singh]], after whom Quaid Post was renamed to Bana Top
* [[Dafdar]], westernmost town in Trans-Karakoram Tract
* [[India-China Border Roads]]
* [[List of extreme points of India]]
* [[Sino-Pakistan Agreement]] for transfer of Trans-Karakoram Tract to China

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{citation |url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/arkargil/news.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212014057/http://indianarmy.nic.in/arkargil/news.htm |archive-date=12 February 2006 |date=15 July 1999 |title=Kargil Update, Indian Air Force. Periodic Updates – Operation Safed Sagar |work=Indian Army, Government of India}}
*{{cite journal |url=http://mod.nic.in/samachar/oct01-02/html/ch2.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717064424/http://mod.nic.in/samachar/oct01-02/html/ch2.htm |archive-date=17 July 2012 |title=Operation Safed Sagar: A Doctrine Rewritten |journal=[[Sainik Samachar]] |issue=October 2001}}

{{military of Pakistan}}

[[Category:Battles of Indo-Pakistani wars]]
[[Category:Kargil War]]
[[Category:1999 in India]]
[[Category:History of the Indian Air Force]]
[[Category:Military operations involving India]]