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Operation Ababeel

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki

Not to be confused with Operation Ababil, Ababeel (missile), or Ababil-100.
Operation Ababeel
Part of the Siachen conflict

Satellite image of the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir
Datec. 1983–1984
Location
Siachen Glacier, Kashmir

Coordinates: 35°25′N 76°55′E / 35.417°N 76.917°E / 35.417; 76.917
Fatal error: The format of the coordinate could not be determined. Parsing failed.


Result
Belligerents
 India  Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
Giani Zail Singh
(President of India)
Indira Gandhi
(Prime Minister of India)		 Gen. Zia-ul-Haq
(President of Pakistan)
Muhammad Khan Junejo
(Prime Minister of Pakistan)
Map of the Siachen Glacier and wider Kashmir region with the area covered by the introductory satellite image outlined.

Operation Ababeel (lit. "Operation Flight of Swallows"[1][2] referencing the anecdote in a Qur'anic Surah, Al-Fil) was the codename for the military operation planned by the Pakistan Armed Forces with the intention to capture and assume absolute control over the Siachen Glacier in the disputed Kashmir region.[3] The operation was effectively thwarted on 13 April 1984 by India's preemptive Operation Meghdoot,[4][5] which resulted in Indian troops successfully gaining control of the entire glacier before Pakistan, sparking the Siachen conflict.[6][7]

Background

Operation Ababeel was launched to dominate the Siachen area which is nestled between Karakorum and Saltoro Mountains ranges. Siachen glacier flows from its source in north-west to Conway Saddle in south-east and then eastward towards the Nubra River. Passes in Siachen Glacier connect the Indian subcontinent with Central Asia. Indira Col pass (19,360 ft) in northwest and Turkestan La pass (18,520 ft) in northeast connect Siachen to China. Sia La in the west connects it to Pakistan held area. In the eastern Siachen is bounded by the Teram Kangri, Teram Sher and Terang mountain ranges which are under Indian control. The main Siachen glacier, excluding it tributory glaciers, is 72 km long and 3-4 km wide, and always remains covered in snow except its western edge where its tributary Lolofond Glacier joins it before terminating into Nubra River.[8]

The operation

Pakistan was to launch a Burzil force from Skardu to capture and establish posts on key points throughout the region of the glacier. India was alerted to the nature of Operation Ababeel around 1983 and promptly began to organize an Indian force to preempt Pakistan's operational plans and seize control of the entire glacier, starting with the heights of Saltoro range to gain a strategic edge over Pakistan in the Kashmir conflict.[9]

Pakistani military sources

Pakistan Army Aviation's official history

The official history published by the Historical Section of Pakistan Army Aviation Directorate states that the Digest of Service of Pakistan's 25 Aviation Squadron records, "Squadron took part in Exercise Ababeel which started in April 1984. Beside operational environment, the area was most hazardous and full of all types of weather phenomenons. After planning was completed in early 1983 the "Ababeel" was launched in July–August 1983 as a ground based commando operation to demonstrate the military strength on Siachen glacier. The operation had a total of 70 troops of all ranks from a company of Special Services Group (SSG), which was commanded by Major Aslam and his 2IC Captain Arshad Rafiq and divided into 3 teams - one for operation in forward area and 2 for support. Team was airlifted from Khaplu to Sia La base camp area in multiple sorties by an Allouette light helicopter. Team which lacked high altitude equipment, boots and tents established 5 camps in the Sia La area. On 16th August 1983, Pakistani aerial sorties which were supplying the Pakistani forward "Camp 4" spotted a number of Indian posts with machine guns and helipads around point HJ9995 and NK0194 in Nubra River valley. A sortie on 21st August 1983 found that Indians had abandoned the area ahead of approaching winter, signs of several abandoned Indian posts were also confirmed as far as Bilafond La area. In August, Pakistan flew a sortie to one of the abandoned Indian forward post. However by the end of August 1983 with winter approaching, Pakistan too abandoned the area. Pakistan's Directorate of Military Operation (DGMO), X Corps headquarters and Commander of Force Command Northern Areas (FCNA) started to plan for the next year operation on the assessment that Indians will reoccupy the area in a preemtive move with bigger force to control the passes on glacier which provide access to the inhabited area controlled by Pakistan by also claimed by India. On 8th October 1983, the plan to occupy the Siachen in the summer of 1984 was approved by the President General Zia Ul Haq, and Pakistan began to buy the high altitude equipment. These operation were carried out using Puma helicopters including airlifting supplies to Paiju peak and aerial reconnaissance to the heights up to 5000 meters tall.[8]

In early April 1984 Pakistan assembled a joint operations team at Khaplu for the takeover of Saltoro range, which consisted of two companies of Special Services Group (SSG) and a "62 Brigade" and one battalion of Northern Light Infantry (NLI) equipped with two Puma and three Allouette helicopters. On 17th April 1984, in an aerial reconnaissance planned by the Brigadier Ghulam Mohammad Director of Military Operations (DGMO) and Brigadier Ajmal Commander of NLI 62 Brigade, two Pakistani Allouette helicopters planned to enter Siachen area from Sia La to fly over the Siachen glacier before returning by Bilafond La- Gyari-Goma base camp-Khaplu route. Lead helicopter was piloted by Commanding Officer of 5 Squadron, Lieutenant Colonel Kamal Khan, and co-pilot by Captain Shabab. Second helicopter as wingman was piloted by Major Farooq Altaf and Captain Jamshed Bajwa. When these helicopters arrived at Sia La, they found Indian troops occupying the pass at least in 2 camp locations. After making a low pass over the camp, the lead helicopter abandoned the original plan and returned to Dansum tactical headquarters of NLI 62 Brigade. Wingman continued on the original flight route and after discovering more Indian roops at Bilafond La realised that Indian troops had already takenover the area before Pakistani troops could reach there. Wingman's helicopter was later found to have the bullet holes at the tail, which were the first ever bullets fired by the India in Siachen Glacier. After DGMO breifed his superiors, Pakistan fell back on its contingency plan of occupying the defensive positions as close as possible to the heights captured by the India. A platoon was send to hold the Kundus Bend general area of Sia La sector, one company from Ali Brangsa was placed at Bilafond secto, one Platoon of NLI at Chulung, and one platoon at Gyong La on 15th May 1984 where first exchange of fire between India Pakistan took place on 25th May 1984.[8]

By end May 1984, India had captured all the possible passes which lead to Siachen Glacier from Pakistan or China. India held positions at Sia La post manned by Kilo Company of Ladakh Scouts, Indira Col post manned by a platoon, Bilafond La post manned by 2 companies of 4th Kumaon Regiment, Gyong La post manned by 2 companies of 9th Kumaon Regiment which has military base camp at Dzingrulma. Pakistan held positions at Ali Brangsa post manned by a company of SSG which was later replaced by Azad Kashmir Regiment equipped with 81 mm & 120 mm mortars and 105mm M2 Howitzer, Gyong La post manned by a company equipped with 81 & 120 mm mortars and 105 mm Howitzer, Yarma La (La Yongma) post manned by 2 platoons equipped with 81 mortars and one 105 mm Howitzer, Chulung La post manned by a company of 1st Northern Light Infantry (NLI) equipped with 3 inch mortars, Kundus Bend post manned by a platoon of NLI equipped with two 81 mm mortars, Goma base camp manned by the battalion headquarter of 1st Commando and 1st NLI battalion, Dansum base manned by NLI 62 Brigade which was replaced by 323rd Brigade.[8]

Parvez Musharaf's memoir

Prof. Baghel and Prof. Nausser of Germany's Heidelberg University write in the highly-ranked peer-reviewed academic journal Political Geography[note 1] that "There was dark humour in the choice of the code-name, as Operation Meghdoot, launched on 13 April 1984, consisted of Indian air force helicopters carrying assault troops to the area to obtain control of key ridges and passes. Pakistan had also planned Operation Ababeel to capture the same ridges, but the Indians came to know of it and moved first. The attack of the Pakistanis was unsuccessful as by then the Indians already held the commanding positions on the passes (Musharraf, 2007, pp 68e69)."[16]

Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's former President and Military General, who was a brigadier at that time writes in his autobiography In the Line of Fire: A Memoir that Pakistan had the plan to takeover the entire siachen glacier but they were "pre-empted" by the Indian military which had already taken over the area in the Operation Meghdoot just days before Pakistan's "Operation Ababeel".[17]

Musharraf himself reported the following in his memoir. After Pakistan came to know in 1983 that the Indian troops frequently patrol the Siachen area claimed by Pakistan, a Special Service Group team was sent which confirmed the report. Pakistan Army's GHQ began to plan the takeover of passes, at a height of 16,000 ft (4,000 m) with minus 50 C temperature, on the Saltoro Mountains range which dominate the Siachen area. Since time was important as India too has patrolled the area and with the presumption that India too was planning the same, Musharraf's team at GHQ suggested to launch an operation in early march 1984 to takeover the mountain range. Due to the harsh terrain and weather, the on-site Commanding Officer (CO) of Pakistan's FCNA responsible for the Siachen area declined to send his troops during the winter as they had no operational experience in such conditions, hence CO's decision to send troops after 1st May 1984 prevailed. Indian troops take seven days to trek over the glaciers to reach their positions on the passes of Saltoro range, whereas Pakistan has a gravel road up to Saltoro range and Pakistani troops can climb up to their positions on the mountain within a day after travelling there by the jeep. From Pakistan's perspective this turned out to be a mistake as by the time Pakistani troops climbed the mountain heights, the Indian troops had already occupied the dominating positions on the Saltoro range beyond which lies the Siachen area. Pakistani troops then occupied the positions surrounding Indian positions, resulting in series of position occupied by both sides at mountain heights within shooting range.[18]

Indian military sources

(PDF) Dominating the Mountain Warfare Narrative in the ...www.researchgate.net › publication › 312094528_Domin... Operation Ababeel. Operation Meghdoot ...

Marcus P Acosta; “High Altitude Warfare: The Kargil Conflict and the Future”; Naval Postgraduate School,. Monterey


Brig Amar Cheema, VSM, quotes Pakistan's General Khan that Pakistan's COAS undercalculated the resource requirements for the Operation Ababeel on both side by estimating that India would require a brigade which Pakistan can counter with a battalion. The main action was from Bilafond La in north to Chulung La in south.[19]

Col. Arun Parasar writes that the Pakistan also made a tactical error in their haste to launch Operation Ababeel. Pakistan "had ordered for arctic weather gear from a London supplier who also supplied to India." Through this supplier India came to know of Pakistan's plan and was able to preempt Pakistan's Operation Ababeel through earlier execution of own Operation Meghdoot.[20]

Indian Army's retired Lt Gen ML Chibber, who was one of the commanders and planner of the Operation Meghdoot,[20] wrote in Indian Defence Review journal that if had not Indian preempted Pakistan the the Pakistan would have captured the area now occupied by India as had also assembled a team called "Burzil Force" for the "Operation Abeel" for the capture of Siachen.[21]

Vikram Sood, the former head of India's foreign intelligence agencyResearch and Analysis Wing (R&AW), in a piece which was published by the independent think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and Indian newspaper Mid Day wrote that "Intelligence reports in 1983 had clearly warned that Pakistan had begun planning an assault on the Saltoro Ridge. A force called the Burzil Force would be launched from Skardu under ’Operation Ababeel’. In a dramatic push, almost like the crossing of Zoji La in 1947, an Indian force under ’Operation Meghdoot’ captured the heights of Saltoro barely 48 hours before the Pakistan operation got going."[22]

Indian Army's "Combat Journal" also corroborates the information about the "Operation Obabeel" that the capture of Siachen by Pakistan woulkd have been fate accompli if India had not launched the preemptive Operation Meghdoot.[23]

Col Y Udaya Chandar (Retd) noted in his book that the actions by Pakistan triggered India's Operation Meghdoot to pre-empt Pakistan's Operation Ababeel, which resulted in Indian troops successfully gaining control of the entire Siachen Glacier.[23]

Other sources

These sources include Indian, Pakistani and other newspapers and scholars.

Pakistan Journal of History and Culture points out that while the Indian writers point to the absurdity of the argument about Siachen's strategic importance and see no reason for war over it, the actions of Indian Army were responsible for triggering the conflict which resulted in Pakistan launching its own military operation code-named Ababeel.[24]

Pakistani-origin authors Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad and Aamir Bashir[note 2] investigate the circumstances surrounding the Operation Ababeel and Operation Meghdoot from the perspective of India, Pakistan and other sources. They state that the presence of Indians on Siachen glacier resulted in Pakistan launching its own military operation codenamed Ababeel (the swallow).[26]

Misra while writing for Durham University's Centre for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies,[27] Bajpai et al,[28] Arvin Aditvaraj,[29] all provide the details of Operation Abeel.

Sinha wrote in the Geopolitics journal "Operation Meghdoot successfully allowed Indian forces to occupy most of the dominating heights on Saltoro Ridge to the west of Siachen Glacier. In hindsight attempts by China and Pakistan to cozy up militarily has been thwarted to a large extent as the Saltoro Heights dominate the entire region up to the Karakoram Pass including the Shaksgam Valley that has been illegally ceded to China by Pakistan. It also provides depth to Leh and Kargil and has assumed greater importance in view of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that is being constructed. Most importantly, operating at 5000m over the past four decades has given Indian forces valuable insights into specialized warfare and greatly enhanced Indian capabilities to fight in Extreme Cold and High Altitude conditions and terrain."[30]

Aftermath

Indian hold over Siachen and Saltoro range

After India preempted Pakistan's "Operation Ababeel" with its own "Operation Meghdoot" just 48 hours before the Pakistani assault, India gained control of nearly 1,000 square miles of Siachen territory.[31] Line across Siachen glacier which separates the Indian and Pakistani troops is called the Actual Ground Position Line.

Pakistan's Operation Yarmuk for Baltoro range

After Saltoro range was occupied by India, Pakistan planned to takeover Baltoro range through Operation Yarmuk (Exercise Yarmuk)". In January 1985, Pakistan assembled its "Zarrar Force" tt Skardu comprised of an infantry battalion and a platoon. Pakistan conducted the reconnaissance of Conway Saddle pass in February 1985, dropped one officer and four Jawans by helicopter at the base of Conway Saddle on 3rd March 1985, and set up the Pakistani post at Conway Saddle on 17th April 1985. Indians too reached the Conway Saddle during Operation Meghdoot and established a post called "Forward Saddle" at the Indian (eastern) edge of the saddle. On 22nd May 1985 Major Khalid Salim and Captain Inam Karim made first ever landing at Conway Saddle post which is the highest military post (20,000 feet) in the world. Operation used the Puma helicopters with 700 kg load carrying capacity for weekly sorties from Skardu to Gore and Allouette light helicopter with 120 kg load carrying capacity for weekly sorties from Gore to forward posts, which were sufficient to support logistics for a company strength. Multiple sorties were needed a Puma could not carry the larger pallets used for C-130 transport aircraft, hence all supply sorties were done either by airdropping or landing. Puma can operate up to a height of 4,000 m and needed addition kit to reach the height of 5,000 m.[8] Further south, the highest post near Bilafond La was earlier named "Quaid Post" by Pakistan, which was renamed as Bana Post by India after its capture by Indian troops in the Operation Rajiv in 1987.[32][33]

Asset upgrade by Pakistan

Pakistan, which earlier had only Alouette light helicopters for high altitude operations, followed India by inducting Lama helicopters in 1986 for the exclusive use in Siachen Glacier as the same helicopters had enabled Indians in 1984 to takeover the Saltoro heights.[8]

See also

Near the AGPL (Actual Ground Position Line)
Borders
Conflicts
Operations
Other related topics

Notes

  1. ↑ Political Geography (journal) is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by Elsevier covering the geographical and spatial dimensions of politics and the political.[10] The current editor-in-chief is Kevin Grove (Florida International University).[11] According to the Journal Citation Reports, the journal has a 2019 impact factor of 3.043, ranking it 23rd out of 180 journals in the category "Political Science" and 18th out of 84 journals in the category "Geography".[12] Prof. Dr. Marcus Nüsser, PhD, is the Chair of South Asia Institute at the University of Heidelberg (globally ranked 24th on THE WUR 2020), a published academic author and the editor of several academic journals.[13] Dr. Bahgel, PhD, works at the Cluster of Excellence "Asia and Europe in a Global Context" of Heidelberg University and specialises in research on the Himalayan glaciers among other topics.[14][15]
  2. ↑ Pakistani-origin Dr. Aamir Bashir, PhD, is a professor at University of Chicago.[25]

References

  1. ↑ "Literally, a flight of swallows. The name is derived from an incident narrated in the Quran (Surah 105) in which a flock of birds drops stones to destroy an invading army."
  2. ↑ Taking its name from the mention of the "Army of the Elephant" in the first verse, this surah alludes to the Abyssinian campaign against Mecca possibly in the year 552 of the Christian era. Abrahah, the Christian viceroy of the Yemen (which at that time was ruled by the Abyssinians), erected a great cathedral at Sana'a, hoping thus to divert the annual Arabian pilgrimage from the Meccan sanctuary, the Kabah, to the new church. When this hope remained unfulfilled, he was determined to destroy the Kabah; and so he set out against Mecca at the head of a large army, which included several war elephants as well, and thus represented something hitherto unknown and utterly astounding to the Arabs: hence the designation of that year, by contemporaries as well as historians of later generations, as "the Year of the Elephant". Abrahah's army was destroyed on its march - by an extremely huge flock of martin swallow birds (ababil) that dropped tiny stones onto them and turned them to ashes. - and Abrahah himself died on his return to Sana.
  3. ↑ "Factfile on India-Pakistan Siachen dispute". Daily Bhaskar. 30 May 2011. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2012. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  4. ↑ "Siachen height provides military depth India can't afford to lose". Archived from the original on 12 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  5. ↑ "Story of Saltoro -- From Ababeel to Meghdoot". Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  6. ↑ "India will not give up tactical advantage over Pak in Siachen". The Times of India. 8 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2012. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  7. ↑ Baghel, Ravi; Nüsser, Marcus (2015-09-01). "Securing the heights: The vertical dimension of the Siachen conflict between India and Pakistan in the Eastern Karakoram". Political Geography. 48: 24–36. doi:10.1016/j.polgeo.2015.05.001. ISSN 0962-6298.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Maj Gen Mohammad Cheema, Col Mushtaq Madni and Major Aamir Mushtaq Cheema, 2008, History of Pakistan Army Aviation: 1947-2017, Historical Section of Army Aviation Directorate, General Headquarters (Pakistan Army)GHQ, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, pp 252, 258-262.
  9. ↑ Sood, Vikram (26 April 2012). "Story of Saltoro -- From Ababeel to Meghdoot". Mid Day. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  10. ↑ "About this journal". Political Geography. Elsevier. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  11. ↑ "Editorial board". Political Geography. Elsevier. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  12. ↑ "Journals Ranked by Impact: Political Science and Geography". 2019 Journal Citation Reports. Web of Science (Social Sciences ed.). Thomson Reuters. 2019. Search this book on
  13. ↑ Prof. Dr. Marcus Nüsser's biography, Heidelberg University.
  14. ↑ Dr Bahgel's biography, Heidelberg University.
  15. ↑ Dr Bahgel's research specialisations, Heidelberg University.
  16. ↑ Baghel, Ravi; Nusser, Marcus (2015-06-17). "Securing the heights; The vertical dimension of the Siachen conflict between India and Pakistan in the Eastern Karakoram". Political Geography (journal). Elsevier. 48: 24–36. doi:10.1016/j.polgeo.2015.05.001.
  17. ↑ [1], The Print, 14 April 2018.
  18. ↑ [[Pervez Musharraf], 2006, In the Line of Fire: A Memoir, In the Line of Fire: A Memoir]], Free Press (publisher) pp 68-70.
  19. ↑ Brig Amar Cheema, The Crimson Chinar: The Kashmir Conflict: A Politico Military Perspective, Lancer Publishers & Distributors.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Col. Arun Parasar, 2020, The Three S Factor: A Memoir by SIACHEN, SRI LANKA, SOMALIA Warrior, Notion Press.
  21. ↑ Lt Gen ML Chibber, Jan-Mar 1990, Siachen: The Untold Story (A Personal Account), Indian Defence Review, Vol 5.1.
  22. ↑ Vikaram Sood, 2012, Story of Saltoro — From Ababeel to Meghdoot, Mid Day.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 1993, Combat Journal, Volume 20, Issues 2-3, Page 7. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "IndRef3" defined multiple times with different content
  24. ↑ 2006, Pakistan Journal of History and Culture, Volume 27, Page 100.
  25. ↑ Dr. Aamir Bashir biodata, University of Chicago.
  26. ↑ Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad and Aamir Bashir, 2004, India and Pakistan: Charting a Path to Peace, Page 92.
  27. ↑ SAshutosh Misra, 2000, Siachen Glacier Flashpoint: A Study of Indian Pakistani Relations, Centre for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Durham University.
  28. ↑ Kanti P. Bajpai, Afsir Karim, Amitabh Mattoo, 2001, Kargil and After: Challenges for Indian Policy, Har-Anand Publications, Page 203.
  29. ↑ Arvind Adityaraj, 2001, In the Shadow of Gunfire: Dynamics of Ideology and Power, Janaki Prakashan, page 126.
  30. ↑ D Sinha, January 2017. Dominating the Mountain Warfare Narrative in the Indian Context, Geopolitics (journal), Taylor & Francis.
  31. ↑ Siachen Glacie Atlas Obscura.
  32. ↑ Ajai Shukla (30 May 2011). "Army watches as Siachen dialogue resumes". Business Standard.
  33. ↑ Samir Bhattacharya (January 2014). Nothing But!. Partridge Publishing (Authorsolutions). pp. 146–. ISBN 978-1-4828-1732-4. Search this book on

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