Indo-Pak relations are always on tenterhooks with Pakistan sponsoring militancy following its policy of 'bleed India with thousand cuts' as indoctrined by Mohamad Ali Jinnah. In India and Pakistan already fought two wars and world nations worry that third war is always on cards.
When Pakistan entered Kargil in 1999, crossing the border, the then NDA government tried various means to solve the situation. During that time then PM Vajpayee during his meeting with then IAF chief Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis instructed him not to cross Line of Control at any cost when he asked for permission to do so.
IAF chief AY.Tipnis says "The PM (Vajpayee) straightened up in his chair and said firmly, 'Please don't cross the LoC. No crossing the LoC'," However IAF had its own offensive air operations drawnup under Operation Safed Sagar. Throughout the conflict, the Indian MiG-21, MiG-27 and Mirage-2000 fighters fired rockets and missiles at the "fortified enemy positions" only from their "own side" of the LoC. Srinagar airbase was put on high alert for a pre emptive deep strike at dawn on June 13 inside Pakistan.
The MiG-21 pilots from the "Golden Arrows" squadron were all geared up, with targets being assigned, and equipped with revolvers and Pakistani currency to escape in the eventuality of being shot down over Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, as is customary. They had also written "letters home" if they did not return from their missions.
