India has undertaken several strategic military operations against Pakistan over the decades. These operations range from conventional warfare during declared wars to precision strikes in response to terror attacks. Here’s a comprehensive look at these key military actions:
1. Operation Riddle (1965 Indo-Pak War)
Launched during the 1965 Indo-Pak war, this involved both defensive and offensive actions by the Indian Army in response to Pakistan’s Operation Gibraltar and Grand Slam. The objective was to relieve pressure in Jammu and threaten Lahore, compelling Pakistani troops to withdraw from Kashmir.
2. Operation Ablaze (1965 Indo-Pak war)
Operation Ablaze, too, was executed just before the 1965 war, this operation was a preventive troop mobilization along the western border in anticipation of Pakistani attacks. It enabled India to be ready for the impending conflict.
3. Operation Cactus Lily (1971 Indo-Pak War)
Operation Cactus Lily, also known as the Meghna Heli Bridge or the Crossing of the Meghna, was a major air assault carried out by the Indian Army and Air Force from 9 to 12 December 1971, during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
In this operation, Indian troops crossed the Meghna River by using helicopters instead of fighting through a heavily defended Pakistani position at Ashuganj/Bhairab Bazar. This smart move helped Indian forces reach Dhaka faster. The idea for the operation came from Major General (later Lieutenant General) Sagat Singh.
This operation played a key role in surrounding Dhaka and speeding up the end of the war. Without it, the war could have lasted much longer.
4. Operation Trident & Python
This was a naval attack by India during the 1971 war, targeting Karachi harbor, which was Pakistan’s main naval base. Indian missile boats, supported by other ships, used anti-ship missiles to destroy enemy ships and seriously weaken Pakistan’s navy.
Operation Python:
After the success of Operation Trident, India launched Operation Python to cause even more damage to Pakistan’s navy in Karachi. It was a second attack, planned smartly to take advantage of Pakistan’s efforts to hide its warships among merchant ships and increased air patrols.
5. Operation Meghdoot (1984 Siachen Conflict)
Operation Meghdoot was the name of the mission carried out by the Indian Armed Forces to take complete control of the Siachen Glacier in Ladakh. It began early in the morning on 13 April 1984 and is known as the start of military operations on the world’s highest battlefield. The operation was launched before Pakistan could carry out its own plan, called Operation Ababeel, and ended successfully with India taking full control of the glacier.
Even today, the Indian Army is the only army in the world to have deployed tanks and heavy weapons at heights of over 5,000 meters. Around ten infantry battalions from both India and Pakistan are still stationed at extreme altitudes—up to 6,400 meters—because of the ongoing Siachen conflict.
6. Operation Brasstacks (1986–87)
A massive military exercise conducted in Rajasthan that significantly raised tensions with Pakistan. Though not a combat operation, its scale nearly brought both nations to the brink of war.
7. Operation Cactus (1988)
Though not related to Pakistan, this operation demonstrated India’s rapid military deployment. It was launched to quell a coup attempt in the Maldives, with Indian paratroopers landing in Malé and restoring order swiftly.
8. Operation Vijay (1999)
Conducted during the Kargil War, this was India’s military campaign to recapture high-altitude positions in the Drass-Kargil-Batalik sectors occupied by Pakistani soldiers and militants.
9. Operation Safed Sagar (1999)
The Indian Air Force’s role in the Kargil War was codenamed Operation Safed Sagar. Mirage 2000 jets were used to destroy Pakistani bunkers and supply lines, supporting Operation Vijay.
10. Surgical Strikes (2016)
Following the Uri terror attack, Indian Army conducted cross-LoC surgical strikes targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This marked a shift in India’s counter-terror doctrine.
11. Operation Bandar (2019)
Codename for the Balakot air strikes, carried out in retaliation for the Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF jawans. Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 jets bombed Jaish-e-Mohammed training camps deep inside Pakistan.
These operations underscore India’s strategic military capabilities and its commitment to national security in the face of cross-border threats, particularly from Pakistan.
Also Read: India Launches Operation Sindoor Amid Rising Tensions with Pakistan
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