Frozen Victory: 40 Years of Operation Meghdoot in Siachen

2024 marks India’s fortieth anniversary of Operation Meghdoot. The conflict's roots can be traced to the partition of India and the subsequent Kashmir wars between India and Pakistan. In July 1949, the Karachi Agreement established a ceasefire line in Kashmir and left the easternmost point at NJ9842 undefined due to its inhospitable terrain. This vague agreement stated the line would extend ‘thence North to the glaciers’, including the Siachen, Rimo, and Baltoro glaciers. Lieutenant General SK Sinha, reflecting later, noted the oversight in leaving this area undefined–‘No one, at that time, thought that military operations could take place at the forbidding heights beyond NJ9842’–recognising the need for clearer demarcation beyond NJ9842. With the unclear territorial control over the Siachen Glacier, India asserted its claim up to the Saltoro Ridge, while Pakistan contended its territory extended to the Karakoram Pass from Point NJ9842, resulting in conflicting claims over the glacier's barren heights.

In a bid to strengthen their respective claims during the 1970s and early 1980s, both countries permitted mountaineering expeditions in the region. Pakistan-backed expeditions, often accompanied by Army liaison officers, aimed to reinforce its claim. India responded by allowing expeditions, notably the 1978 Teram Kangri climb led by Colonel Narinder Kumar, with support from the Indian Air Force. Indian Army expeditions, including those led by Brigadier KN Thadani and Lieutenant Colonel Prem Chand, successfully scaled peaks in Siachen, underscoring India's presence. However, Pakistan's 1984 approval for a Japanese expedition to climb Rimo I Peak raised Indian suspicions of Pakistan's intentions, given the peak's strategic view over Aksai Chin, occupied by China.

The Beginning

The Indian Army deployed troops and paramilitary forces to the Siachen Glacier area from northern Ladakh. These troops had previously undergone acclimatisation training in Antarctica in 1982. Anticipating India's potential capture of strategic points near the glacier, Pakistani generals ordered troop deployments to Siachen in 1983. However, they inadvertently revealed their plan by purchasing Arctic gear from a London supplier, who also supplied India. Capitalising on this information, India expedited its operation.

The Siachen conflict's early strategy focused on securing Bilafond La and Sia La passes to block glacier access from the Pakistani side. However, a potential Pakistani counter-attack via Gyong La was overlooked. This ridge, ranging from 18,500 ft to 22,000 ft, presented treacherous terrain with steep peaks, dangerous crevasses, and avalanche risks. Despite concerns raised during a 1984 wargame exercise, the threat from Gyong La was dismissed due to its perceived inaccessibility and lack of reported Pakistani movements.

Approximately 17 days prior to the Indian Army's preemptive operation around Siachen Glacier, the leadership of HQ 15 Corps convened at their headquarters in Srinagar. Their objective was to refine the strategy for the impending bold move. This exercise, named Exercise Walnut Cracker, meticulously planned the operational and logistical facets of what would later be recognised as Operation Meghdoot.

Operation Meghdoot, aimed at gaining control over the glacier, was scheduled for 13 April 1984, preempting Pakistan's intended occupation by four days. Led by Lieutenant General PN Hoon, the operation tasked Brigadier Vijay Channa of the 26 Sector with seizing the Saltoro ridge between 10–30 April. Choosing 13 April for the operation coincided with Vaisakhi, catching the Pakistanis off guard.

During the war game, it was anticipated that Pakistan might respond to India's preemptive strike by attempting to cross the Saltoro Ridge south of Bilafond La. However, this potential threat was analysed and dismissed due to the presence of Pakistani troops in the vicinity.

The Operation

In March 1984, the 19 Kumaon Battalion and Ladakh Scouts, led by Lieutenant Colonel DK Khanna, trekked covertly through Zojila's snow-covered terrain. The battalion achieved a remarkable feat by marching on foot, carrying full battle loads, from Khrew in the Kashmir Valley to the base of Siachen Glacier during winter. This historic march across the snow-bound Zojila Pass marked the first and only time an infantry battalion accomplished such a task. Major RS Sadhu's unit secured glacier heights and Captain Sanjay Kulkarni's unit of 4 KUMAON was deployed by helicopter approximately three kilometers from Bilafond La on 13 April. Despite weather-related delays, the pass was secured within days, and Sia La was occupied by 17 Apri. Captain PV Yadav's unit captured the Saltoro Ridge Heights within days as well.

Named after the celestial messenger from a Sanskrit drama, Operation Meghdoot showcased the audacious airlifting of Indian Army soldiers by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to remote glacial heights. Utilising aircraft like the Il-76, An-12, and An-32, the IAF transported troops and supplies while conducting airdrops at high-altitude airfields. Additionally, helicopters such as the Mi-17, Mi-8, Chetak, and Cheetah were deployed to ferry provisions and personnel to previously uncharted peaks. By 13 April around 300 Indian troops held key positions on the glacier.

As mentioned by Amit K Paul, author of Meghdoot: The Beginning of the Coldest War, other key figures present during the war game included Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General ML Chibber, Corps Commander Lieutenant General PN Hoon, and MGGS Northern Command Major General Amarjit Singh. Additionally, GOC 3 Infantry Division Major General Shiv Sharma, Commander 26 Sector Brigadier VN Channa, and Commanding Officer 1 VIKAS Lieutenant Colonel Pushkar Chand.

The opposing forces in the war game, representing the Pakistani side, included Commander 114 Infantry Brigade, Brigadier Moti Dhar, Colonel (Int) HQ 15 Corps, Colonel PK Jain, GSO 1 (Int) HQ 15 Corps, Lieutenant Colonel MU Ali, and CO 14 DOGRA, Lieutenant Colonel AK Budhiraja. Their mission was to occupy Bilafond La, Sia La, and patrol up to Indira Col, the northernmost point with an altitude of 5,764 m in the Siachen Muztagh of the Karakoram Range.

Upon arrival, Pakistani troops found India in control of crucial mountain passes and the entire Saltoro Ridge's commanding heights. Despite easier ground access, Pakistan could only secure the Ridge's western slopes due to altitude challenges, while India relied on airdrops for supplies. The Indian Army secured 985.71 sq miles of territory, establishing permanent posts. Casualty data remains unspecified, but both sides suffered primarily from harsh weather, terrain, and natural hazards like avalanches and crevasses.

The Aftermath

Operation Meghdoot secured India control over the 70-km-long Siachen Glacier, its tributaries, and key passes like Sia La, Bilafond La, and Gyong La on the Saltoro Ridge, providing a strategic height advantage. The Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) runs along the Saltoro Ridge, stretching from Point NJ9842 to the illegally-ceded Shaksgam Tract to China by Pakistan in 1963.

Pakistan's attempts to capture the ridge and passes in 1987 and 1989 were thwarted. In 1987, India seized the ‘Quaid’ post, renaming it Bana Post after Bana Singh, who led the successful Operation Rajiv and was awarded the Param Vir Chakra. Bana Post, at 22,143 ft, saw Pakistan's unsuccessful 1988 attempts to reclaim it. Captain Pratap Singh of 75 Medium Regiment thwarted their efforts despite being severely injured by a booby-trapped grenade. His brave actions prevented further attacks but cost him his life. Pakistan's 1989 assault also failed to change ground positions.

And In May 1984…

By mid-May 1984, Pakistani troop movements towards Gyong La were confirmed. Responding swiftly, UNNIS (United Nations Northern Infantry Sector) troops occupied strategic heights, including OP Hill and Point 5705, preventing Pakistani advancements. Second Lieutenant, PS Poondir, and his team volunteered for this perilous mission. Unfortunately, a massive avalanche on 29 May 1984, claimed their lives, burying the entire patrol. Despite extensive search efforts, some bodies remained unrecovered as of 2017.

Poondir and his comrades, young soldiers in their prime, made the ultimate sacrifice. They were mourned by UNNIS, with funerals held at the Nubra River banks. Sadly, their families never received their bodies due to logistical constraints at the time, and they were not posthumously honoured with gallantry awards. The Sector Commander attributed the avalanche to enemy firing, but the exact cause remains uncertain.

Conclusion

In conclusion, as we reflect on the fortieth anniversary of Operation Meghdoot, it becomes abundantly clear that the meticulous planning, strategic foresight, and extraordinary efforts of units like 4 KUMAON and 19 KUMAON were not merely acts of military precision but acts of enduring valour. These units, with their unwavering commitment and bravery, played pivotal roles in the successful execution of this operation. Their resilience and determination not only secured India's presence but also showcased our nation's unwavering commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity in the world's highest battlefield. Operation Meghdoot stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Indian Armed Forces and their dedication to protecting our sovereignty under the harshest conditions imaginable.