Context: April 13, 2024, marks the fortieth anniversary of Operation Meghdoot, during which the Indian Army pre-emptively occupied the Siachen Glacier on the Saltoro Ridge, overlooking the Nubra Valley in the Karakoram Range. Although a ceasefire is currently in effect, the operation is still ongoing.
About Operation Meghdoot:
- It was the codename for the Indian Army operation to take full control of the Siachen Glacier in Ladakh.
- Siachen, in Balti language means “land of roses’, ‘Sia’ is a kind of rose species that grows in the region and ‘Chen’ means “in abundance”.
- It is known for being the world’s highest and coldest battlefield. It sits at a very strategic location with Pakistan on the left and China on the right.
- It is a legacy of the Partition between India and Pakistan. While the Line of Control (LoC) was delineated and accepted by both sides upto NJ-9842 as part of the 1972 Shimla agreement, the glacier itself was left unmarked.
- India claims the area based on the Jammu and Kashmir Accession Agreement of 1947 and the Karachi Agreement of 1949, which define the ceasefire line beyond NJ-9842 as running “Northwards to the glaciers”. On the other hand, Pakistan interprets it as ‘North-Eastwards’ to claim the area beyond the Saltoro Ridge and beyond Siachen as its own. This would give Pakistan direct connectivity to China as well as strategic oversight over the Ladakh region and the crucial Leh-Srinagar highway, posing a serious threat to India.
- Launched on 13 April 1984, this unique military operation was the first assault launched in the world's highest battlefield.
- This operation pre-empted Pakistan's Operation Ababeel; and was a success. Resulting in Indian forces gaining control of the Siachen Glacier in its entirety.
- The operation resulted in India gaining the 70 kilometers long Siachen Glacier and all of its tributary glaciers, as well as the three main passes on the Saltoro Ridge immediately west of the glacier; Sia La, Bilafond La, and Gyong La. Thus, giving India the tactical advantage of holding higher grounds.
- The Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) runs roughly along the Saltoro Ridge which extends nearly 120 kilometers from Point NJ9842 to the Shaksgam Tract (a part of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir; which Pakistan had illegally ceded to China in 1963).
- It is still on and will continue till a political solution of the Jammu and Kashmir problem is achieved with both Pakistan and China.
- However, this Operation was unique in its own ways as no such operation was ever carried out by any military in history and no one had occupied such a terrain continuously for over four decades.
Genesis of Operation Meghdoot
- Shaksgam Valley was ceded to China (Although it was very well part of India) by Pakistan in 1963. Siachen Area is located so strategically that while it dominates Shaksgam Valley in the north, controls the routes coming from Gilgit Baltistan to Leh from the west, and at the same time, dominates the ancient Karakoram Pass in the eastern side too.
- Towards the west, nearly the entirety of Gilgit Baltistan which too is an Indian territory illegally occupied by Pakistan in 1948.
- Soon after the ceded of Shaksgam Valley, Pakistan started allowing multiple mountaineering expeditions in this area in 1970s and 1980s with dual purpose, to internationally claim that the area belongs to them and to have some kind of physical domination over the terrain.
- To strengthen this, Pakistan was sending a military officer with each of these expeditions as a liaison officer who was not only mapping the area but was also helping in planning.
- Accordingly, India too started planning mountaineering expeditions in this area. From 1978 to 1984, India sent multiple military mountaineering expeditions in this area. The first team which went there in 1978 was led by Colonel Narinder (Bull) Kumar followed by another large expedition in 1980. More than a dozen expeditions were launched in various areas.
- It was revealed that Pakistan has kept the day of 17th April 1984 to launch the operation. The strength and overall planning of Pakistan was also uncovered by Indian Intelligence agencies which acted as a major decisive factor in “Operation Meghdoot”.
- The operation was launched under the leadership of Lt.General Manohar Lal Chibber, Lt.General PN Hoon, and Major General Shiv Sharma.