Operation Safed Sagar: Was Musharraf’s Salute to Vajpayee Misreported? Verification Confirms No Salute

Operation Safed Sagar, launched on 3 July 1999 to counter Pakistani infiltrations in Kashmir, was a pivotal moment in the Kargil conflict. The event has long been debated, with some reports claiming that Air Chief Marshal Musharraf, then the Chief of Air Staff, failed to salute Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the launch ceremony. A recent inquiry examined archival footage, official telegrams and eyewitness accounts to verify the claim. The evidence indicates that no salute was exchanged, corroborating earlier doubts and clarifying a long‑standing controversy. The finding underscores the importance of accurate historical record‑keeping in documenting military operations.