40 years of Operation Meghdoot: Siachen and Indian military's knockout punch to Pakistan

An Indian military position at the Siachen Glacier. Image courtesy X handle of @NorthernComd_IA

The root cause of the Siachen dispute can be traced back to the Karachi Agreement of 1949. The representatives of both nations drew the ‘Ceasefire Line’ across maps of Jammu and Kashmir from Manawar in the south to Khor in the north and thence ‘North to the Glaciers’ through NJ 9842. Post the 1971 War, the line running north of NJ 9842, was the point mentioned when the talks between India and Pakistan took place in Suchetgarh to delineate the Line of Control. Presumably, when the discussion came up on the glaciated wilderness of snow and ice the representatives stopped at grid Point NJ 9842 on the presumption that neither side would be interested in contesting an area where not a blade of grass grows and even breathing is a problem.

Beneath the veneer of this bleak beauty lie menacing hazards that snatch away human lives if one is not careful. The glacier, is of strategic importance to India, Pakistan and China as it is a hub for Shaksgam Valley and Karakoram Pass.

In 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded some 5,180 square kilometres of Indian territory to China in the area where the boundaries of India, Pakistan and China meet thereby altering the geostrategic importance of this area. Further, the glacier is the source of the Nubra river that eventually feeds the Indus river, which is the major water source that irrigates the plains of Punjab in Pakistan. The problem started when Pakistan decided to further their ambitions by permitting and assisting foreign mountaineering and scientific expeditions in the area and raised the issue of ‘rights’ in an area that did not belong to them.

Throughout the 1970s, several mountaineering expeditions were sponsored from the Pakistan side, many of which included foreign participants to lay claim to this area. These crossed the Saltoro Ridge and the Siachen glacier.

The build-up

It was only on 24 January 1978 that the Indian authorities became aware of the implications of joining NJ9842 to the Karakoram Pass and Pakistan’s mountaineering expeditions. While due northwards meant along the Saltoro Ridge to K2, Pakistan in a cartographic aggression joined the line with Karakoram Pass thereby including both Siachen and Shaksgam Valley in their area.

In response, India decided to send a strong military mountaineering expedition to climb a series of peaks on either side of the Siachen glacier led by Colonel Narinder (Bull) Kumar, a well-known mountaineer in 1978. The Indian Army returned to the glacier in 1981 to climb Saltoro Kangri I and other peaks and reached Indira Col (West) at the head of the glacier. In between these an army team climbed Apsarasas in 1980. It was on one of these expeditions under Colonel Kumar who headed the High-Altitude Warfare School (HAWS), and was a recipient of the Padma Shri, Kirti Chakra, Arjuna Award and McGregor Medal, that the cartographic aggression of Pakistan in the Siachen glacier was first detected in the region. The success of these expeditions also revealed evidence of other expeditions having entered the Siachen area from the west. Thereafter the Indian Army also sent long-range patrols to the area.

Kumar alerted Lieutenant General ML Chibber, earlier the DGMO and later the Northern Army Commander about the Siachen mountaineering expeditions from Pakistan and ‘recommended that to ensure the Pakistanis do not intrude into Siachen, India should establish a post in the area which could be manned during the summer. His actions led to him being fondly called the ‘Saviour of Siachen’. The role of the Indian Air Force remained integral in the success of these expeditions since they supported the Indian Army by providing valuable logistic support and supply of fresh rations. A plan to counter Pakistan and not lose the area which is legitimately ours was discussed in Army Headquarters and approved by then Chief General Arun Vaidya and thereafter the Cabinet Committee of Security gave clearance to launch a pre-emptive counter operation. The Indian Army thereafter took action and occupied Saltoro Range.

The Indian Army launched Operation Meghdoot on 13 April 1984 under the leadership of Lieutenant General Manohar Lal Chibber, Lieutenant General PN Hoon and Major General Shiv Sharma. The primary objective of the operation was to pre-empt the seizure of Sia La and Bilafond La passes by the Pakistan Army. Bilafond La had been used as a traditional Pass for climbing from the West. From the north to south, there were four important passes on the Saltoro Ridge: Sia La, Bilafond La, Gyong La and Chulung La.

Commencement of the operations

The task of establishing the Indian Army’s presence over Siachen Glacier was entrusted to 26 Sector commanded by Brigadier VN Channa. The 4 KUMAON, supported by a company of Ladakh Scouts under Major VS Salaria and two companies of 19 KUMAON commanded by Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) DK Khanna were in turn tasked to occupy the Siachen Glacier Complex. Before undertaking the task, the troops carried out rigorous training for several weeks, which included ice craft, snow craft, survival, physical fitness and mental robustness. The first troops to be heli-dropped as part of the Zorawar Task Force were commanded by Major (later Colonel) RS Sandhu, VrC of 4 KUMAON. The first wave was under Captain (later Lieutenant General) Sanjay Kulkarni, who landed on the Glacier on 13 April 1984, and hoisted the Indian tricolour on Bilafond La four days later as they could not move ahead initially due to a severe snowstorm.

He recalls approaching the Pass only to find a Pakistani helicopter hovering overhead and it was at that time Pakistan realised they had lost the race to occupy the Saltora Ridge which they had planned to occupy as part of Operation Ababeel.

The foot column led by Major VS Salaria of Ladakh Scouts and Captain (later Lieutenant Colonel) PV Yadav, reached the glacier subsequently, after an extremely strenuous four-day march over extremely inhospitable terrain. The column set up Camps I, II and III for the maintenance of newly established posts on the glacier.

Pakistani troops soon occupied a location west of Bilafond La and commenced firing on 27 April and thereafter launched their first attack on 23 June. But in the mountains once the heights are held by trained and acclimatised soldiers who are logistically sustained it is nearly impossible to dislodge them.

In February 1985, the adversary attempted an attack to occupy the height overlooking Sia La; this attempt too met with failure. By 1987, the Indian Army managed to control all major mountain passes of Sia La, Bilafond La, Gyong La and all the commanding heights of the Saltoro Ridge West of the Siachen Glacier.

The next major effort to change the situation on the ground took place in 1987 when the Pakistani Special Services Group (SSG) occupied a position overlooking the Bilafond La area in March-April named as Quaid Post after Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. The post was a strategically important area in Siachen that was infiltrated by Pakistani forces was located at a height of 6,500 metres on the highest peak in the Siachen Glacier and threatened Indian movement on the Western Siachen Glacier.

Battle of Bana Post

Quaid Post was located on a massive ice mass located at an altitude of 21,153 feet above sea level. The steep ice wall of Quaid Post gives it a very dominating position and to defend it one has to just take potshots at anyone trying to crawl up.

To take control of the Post, India launched Operation RAJIV named after Second Lieutenant Rajiv Pandey of 8 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI) who led a team of soldiers tasked to capture a feature called Left Shoulder at 21,000 feet lying between two Indian posts. During the final assault on 29 May 1987, he was killed. The army then planned yet another operation, which was conducted in June 1987, to capture the post and evict the Pakistanis from there. The task force launched multiple unsuccessful attacks on the Pakistani troops stationed at the post. On the night of 25 June 1987, a team led by Naib Subedar (now Honorary Captain) Bana Singh of 8 JAK LI moved forward to attack the post. They managed to capture it successfully by 26 June 1987.

Naib Subedar Bana Singh of 8 JAK LI had volunteered to be a member of a task force constituted in June 1987. He and his team slowly climbed and clawed their way up the steep wall of ice. The weather was extremely hostile and due to extreme cold, the weapons of the Support Group were malfunctioning. Taking advantage of the poor visibility due to heavy snowfall, Naib Subedar Singh and his group managed to reach close to the enemy post.

En route, they crossed the frozen bodies of their comrades from their battalion, who was killed in earlier attempts to capture the post. Just short of the objective Naib Subedar Singh further divided his small group and using grenades rushed in. Lobbing grenades into the bunkers and finishing off the occupants with the bayonet, seven Pakistani SSG Commandos were killed on the spot and the remainder fled. He was soon joined by others from his unit and the post was safe in Indian hands. Having fought against all odds they were successful in capturing the Quaid Post which was later renamed as Bana Top.

For displaying conspicuous courage, dauntless determination and devotion beyond the call of duty, Naib Subedar Bana Singh was awarded Param Vir Chakra.

With the persistent efforts from both the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, by 1987 Gyong La and all the commanding heights of the Saltoro Ridge West of the Siachen Glacier were successfully again under India’s control. The actions of the Indian Army ensured that Pakistan had no further presence on the Siachen Glacier.

In September 1987, Pakistan again launched a major attack to capture the areas around Bilafond La. However, due to insufficient understanding of the impact of terrain on military operations, this attack ended up as a major defeat for Pakistan. In this operation, Major KG Chatterjee, Lance Havildar NB Ale and Naik PB Gurung of 3^rd Battalion 4^th Gorkha Rifles displayed raw courage and valour in the face of the enemy and were awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.

Kargil War of 1999

During Operation Vijay in 1999, while the Kargil sector bore the main brunt, Siachen Glacier too was the scene of a spectacular military action. In which a handful of brave men overcame tremendous odds and captured what was considered to be an unassailable Pakistani Army Post- Point 5770 and Point 5590.

This peak located in Chamunda/Turtuk Sector adjoining NJ9842, is the place from where the area of Operation Meghdoot started. Approach to Point 5770 from the Pakistani side, though quite daunting, was in relative terms, easier.

Taking advantage of the same, the Pakistanis were able to secure this feature and establish a defensive position, naming it ‘Bilal Post’. As ‘Pimple Post’ effectively covered the approach to Point 5770, any attempt by the Indian Army to reach this peak was nothing less than a suicidal act. Despite the odds, small teams of the Indian Army under Major Navdeep Singh Cheema of 27 RAJPUT and Captain Shyamlal Sinha of HAWS were tasked to capture this formidable post.

This attack came as a shock for Pakistanis. They immediately brought down heavy fire on the assault team, but failed to dislodge the determined attackers from Point 5770. The Indian Army had gained control of this strategic height and effectively thwarted enemy designs to cut off the Bahadur Complex.

Bilal Post was later renamed as ‘Navdeep Top’– a befitting tribute to the daring leader of the assault group, who by personal example motivated his team to accomplish the near impossible task assigned, without incurring any casualty.

Another battle that was fought in the region during the Kargil War was the Battle of Point 5590 where Captain Haneef Uddin of 11 Rajputana Rifles gave Pakistan the taste of defeat in the extreme conditions of Siachen Glacier.

Conclusion

The illustrious history of Operation MEGHDOOT is a testament to the grit, determination and valour of the Indian Armed Forces where about 90 per cent of the casualties are due to the weather.  The unimaginable heights were conquered by not only those soldiers who have occupied the defences physically but also by those who have supported them by various means over the decades which range from logistic supplies, medical assistance by the doctors who have been physically present on these icy heights and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) who have developed the infrastructure in this inhospitable terrain.

Apart from being one of the most challenging operations in the history of the world, Operation Meghdoot is distinguished by being one of the greatest examples of jointness and synergy between the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force. The army and IAF have been fighting shoulder to shoulder at the world’s highest battlefield which is distinctive for its combat and gallantry in the longest joint operation undertaken by India. It has once again proven the fighting spirit of Indian soldiers and Siachen will undoubtedly remain firmly planted in the rich lexicon of India’s military history.

The scroll of honour at the Siachen Base Camp reads, “Quartered in snow, silent to remain. When the bugle calls, they shall rise and march again.” Forty years later we must pay homage to those extraordinary personnel who laid down their lives in the highest traditions of the Services as well as salute those who have served there over the years and whose legacy inspires future generations.

The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.