What Happened to Musharraf After Operation Safed Sagar? Military Coup, Failed India Visit

New Delhi: Pervez Musharraf emerged from the 1999 Kargil conflict as one of Pakistan’s most powerful military figures, but the aftermath of the war dramatically changed the country’s political landscape.

Operation Safed Sagar was the Indian Air Force’s air operation during the Kargil conflict, launched to support Indian ground forces in pushing back Pakistani forces and infiltrators from positions along the Line of Control. The conflict ended with Pakistan withdrawing from the occupied positions after intense fighting.

Musharraf, who was then Pakistan’s Army chief, faced increasing political tension with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after the Kargil conflict. Questions over the planning and conduct of the operation deepened the differences between the civilian government and the military leadership.

The confrontation reached a dramatic point in October 1999. When Sharif attempted to remove Musharraf as Army chief while the general was returning from a trip abroad, the Pakistan Army moved against the civilian government.

On October 12, 1999, Musharraf seized power in a military coup and overthrew Nawaz Sharif. He subsequently assumed the position of Chief Executive of Pakistan, while Sharif was placed under arrest. Musharraf later consolidated his political authority and eventually became President of Pakistan.

Musharraf's rise to power marked a major turning point in Pakistan's political history. Although he presented himself as a reformer and promoted ideas such as “enlightened moderation”, his government remained heavily dependent on the military establishment.

His relationship with India also went through several phases. Despite being closely associated with the Kargil conflict, Musharraf later engaged in high-level talks with Indian leaders.

In July 2001, he travelled to India for the Agra Summit at the invitation of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The summit was seen as a major attempt to improve India-Pakistan relations after the Kargil War. However, the discussions ended without an agreement, with Kashmir remaining one of the central points of disagreement. Musharraf eventually left India without a breakthrough.

Musharraf later held several meetings with Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. While some of these discussions appeared more constructive, major differences between the two countries remained unresolved.

His political career in Pakistan eventually declined. Facing growing opposition and the prospect of impeachment, Musharraf resigned as president in 2008. He subsequently spent years outside Pakistan and lived in self-imposed exile in London and later Dubai.

Musharraf died in Dubai in February 2023 at the age of 79. His legacy remains deeply controversial, particularly because of his role in the Kargil conflict, the 1999 military coup and his nearly decade-long rule of Pakistan.