Operation Safed Sagar: Did Musharraf actually not salute Vajpayee? 3 key moments verified

Operation Safed Sagar, a Netflix India's Top 10 ranked series, delves into the events of the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan. The six-episode drama, co-produced with the Indian Air Force, focuses on the then-Joint Chief of Staffs, Pervez Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif. The narrative has sparked debates over certain dramatic moments, with one of the most controversial being Musharraf's refusal to salute Vajpayee during his historic visit to Lahore in 1999.

According to historical records, Musharraf initially chose to boycott the welcome reception held for Vajpayee at the Attari-Wagah border, citing the military action initiated by Pakistan in India's side of Kashmir. However, after being forced to attend the ceremony, Musharraf reluctantly shook hands with Vajpayee instead of offering a formal military salute, deviating from military and diplomatic protocol.

This action, though seemingly minor, was a harbinger of the major breach that followed - ordering the Pakistani Army to cross the Line of Control, leading to the Kargil War.

The repercussions of this moment were far-reaching. After India's victory in the Kargil War, Musharraf, now President of Pakistan, was invited to India for the Agra summit in 2001. In a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis, representing India's defence forces, refused to salute Musharraf, only offering a handshake.

In a 2013 interview, Tipnis revealed that Musharraf had lied to him, his government, and his people, stating, "Musharraf has lied, I think not only to India, he has lied to his own government, lied to his own army, he has lied to his people."

Musharraf's manipulation of Sharif's perception of the Kargil War's scope also played a significant role in the conflict. He misled Sharif into approving the incursions, later painting the operations as an upgrade on the Indian Mujahideen action. Sharif, however, only realized the extent of the deception when it was too late, as India refused to accept Pakistan's narrative.