“Operation Meghdoot” 40 years in Siachen

“Operation Meghdoot” 40 years in Siachen

GS-2: I R

(IAS/UPPCS)

Relevant for Prelims:

Siachen Glacier, Operation Meghdoot, Karakoram Range, Nubra Valley, Saltoro Ridge, Operation Ababil.

Relevant for Mains:

About Siachen area, Operation Meghdoot, Indian government's initiatives to strengthen the army in Siachen, its importance for India, Conclusion.

17/04/2024

Source: TH

 

Context:

On 13th April in the year 2024, Operation Meghdoot has completed 40 years of its operations in the Siachen area. Under this operation, the Indian Army drove out Pakistan and captured the Nubra Valley in the Karakoram Range and the Siachen Glacier on the Saltoro Ridge. Although a ceasefire is in force in the region, the operation continues to this day. This operation reflects the bravery of the Indian Army and the strategic wisdom of the Government of India.

About Siachen Area:

  • Siachen means "Land of Roses" in the Balti language - 'Sia' is a type of rose that grows in the region and 'Chen' means "in abundance".
  • The height of Siachen is 15,632 feet. There is snow in Siachen every month of the year. The temperature here ranges from -50 to -70 degrees Celsius.
  • It is known as the highest and coldest battlefield in the world. It is at a very strategic location with Pakistan on its left and China on its right.

Hard-to-reach areas:

  • There is a Ladakhi proverb about the Siachen Glacier, located at an altitude of 15,632 feet, "The land is so barren and the passes so high that only the best of friends and the most dreaded enemies come here." This saying refers to the conflict between India and Pakistan over the icy glacier.
  • The soldiers deployed in Siachen have to face difficult conditions and snow storms keep coming here. Apart from this, avalanches are also common here. The soldiers deployed in Siachen also have to face problems of lack of oxygen and food. However, now the situation has changed a lot and there has been a lot of improvement.
  • Extreme weather events are the biggest enemy on this glacier. About 1,150 soldiers have lost their lives, most of them due to extreme weather.

Its significance for India:

  • India already understood the importance of Siachen and believed that it should not be controlled by Pakistan or China in any way. Pakistan handed over the Shaksgam valley here to China under an agreement in 1963. As soon as China took control of the area, it immediately started mountaineering expeditions. By doing this, China wanted to show its hold on this area and establish its control.
  • In January 2020, according to the then Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, Siachen is a strategically important place for India, from where conspiratorial activities against India can be carried out by China and Pakistan, therefore, India must have control and occupation of this particular area.
  • It was a major route for terrorists to infiltrate into India from PoK but since India captured it, the area became safe. India's capture of Siachen has also helped in stopping terrorism.

Fight for rights:

  • Siachen is a legacy of the partition between India and Pakistan. The area up to NJ-9842 was accepted by India and Pakistan as part of the Line of Control (LOC) drawn under the Shimla Agreement of 1972, but the Siachen Glacier was left unmarked.
  • India claims the area on the basis of the Jammu and Kashmir Accession Agreement of 1947 and the Karachi Agreement of 1949, which define the ceasefire line beyond NJ-9842 as "north of the glaciers". On the other hand, Pakistan claims the area 'towards the north-east' beyond the Saltoro Ridge and beyond Siachen.

Its strategic significance for Pakistan:

  • Siachen Glacier is located near the origin of the Indus River. It is also an important source of water resources for Pakistan. It was used as a major route for terrorists to infiltrate into India from PoK.
  • Through this area, Pakistan can get direct connectivity with China and also can get a strategically important position to monitor the Ladakh region and the Leh-Srinagar highway. In this situation, a serious threat can arise for India.

Operation Meghdoot begins:

  • 'Operation Meghdoot' has completed 40 years. Pakistan's aim was to capture Siachen by 17 April 1984 but the Indian Army, showing its bravery, failed it.
  • In the year 1984, the Indian Army captured Siachen Glacier. Pakistan wanted to capture Siachen and launched 'Operation Ababil'. In response to this, the Indian Army carried out 'Operation Meghdoot'.
  • On April 13 itself, the army hoisted the Indian flag in Siachen. In 1984, Baisakhi was on 13th April and even Pakistan had no idea that India would do this on the festival day.
  • Operation Meghdoot has been going on continuously for the last 40 years and will continue until a political solution is reached with both Pakistan and China.

Initiatives of the Government of India to strengthen the army in Siachen:

  • This glacier is also facing the brunt of climate change. In 2015, the snout, which is the starting point of the glacier at Base Camp, had moved back more than a kilometer from where it originally was in 1984.
  • Siachen has changed a lot over the last four decades, especially in terms of technology, improvements in facilities and logistical support to ensure smooth operations and save lives. Some major improvements have taken place in the areas of housing, communications, mobility, logistics and medical support and green initiatives.
  • According to Indian Army officials, India's combat capability has further increased in Siachen. Heavy lift helicopters and logistics drones have also been included in the army fleet and this has strengthened the army. Apart from this, the Army has also deployed all-terrain vehicles and laid an extensive network of tracks.
  • Mobile and data connectivity has improved significantly in the last five years. The introduction of VSAT technology has revolutionized communications on the glacier, providing data and internet connectivity to troops. The soldiers are being provided facilities like telemedicine, special clothing, mountaineering equipment, improved ration and timely weather updates etc.
  • Improved mobility across the glacier with the addition of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and ATV bridges, induction of Chinook heavy-lift helicopters and logistics drones to significantly improve the supply of essential provisions to personnel deployed at cut off posts during winter.

Conclusion:

Operation Meghdoot is an inspiring chapter in Indian military history. It is a symbol of bravery, efficiency and strategic thinking. This operation strengthened India's strategic position and helped in stopping Pakistan's aggression. Even today, India still has control over the Siachen Glacier, which is the result of Operation Meghdoot. 13 April will always remind us of the bravery and sacrifice of the brave soldiers of the Indian Army. The Indian Army needs to maintain control over this area in the future also.

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Mains Question

Comment briefly on the success of Operation Meghdoot in Siachen.