How RAW Outsmarted ISI To Win Siachen For India Through 'Operation Meghdoot'

Known for its dependable services for decades, the Research & Analysis Wing (better known as RAW) is also hailed for its contribution in seizing control over the major peaks of Siachen Glacier in 1984 through the 'Operation Meghdoot'.

RAW's tactical victory over Pakistan's ISI was so colossal that it gave India an unprecedented advantage over both its nemeses - Pakistan as well as China.

Wikipedia

How RAW got the better of ISI?

In 1983, Pakistan decided to storm and capture the major peaks of Siachen Glacier, which was an area where borders weren't demarcated and both countries had their own claims. Pakistan decided to capture major peaks in Siachen Glacier once the winters pass.

Indianexpress

With a plan to station its troops at these peaks by April 17, 1984, Pakistan Army ordered 150 arctic gears for its troops to be stationed in Siachen from a London-based supplier. But it didn't know that RAW has got whiff about their plans and India clandestinely ordered 300 of arctic gear while preventing ISI getting a clue of it. RAW ensured failing the delivery of gears on time while Indian soldiers get their gears in advance.

Operation Meghdoot: How India seized heights?

Due to RAW's efforts, Indian Army got a tactical head start and the Army planned an operation to occupy the glacier by April 13, 1984, to preempt the Pakistani Army by about 4 days. As India had planned the operation in March, many soldiers marched on foot till the eastern base of the glacier while some were airdropped on April 13. India didn't use air drop facilities earlier to avoid Pakistan radars which could have spoiled the plans.

Reuters

Later, when Pakistan came to know about Indian siege, it launched an offensive to remove Indian soldiers positioned on height. But despite using heavy force, which they could - because they had better access to the glacier from West in PoK - they couldn't save themselves because of the altitude and limited time.

Both sides faced casualties, but now Indian forces had seized something which gave India an edge over both China and Pakistan.

Reuters

However, Pakistan still possessed more ground accessible routes to the area, unlike Indian access, which was largely reliant on air drops for supplies due to the steep hills on its side.

What was Pakistan's folly?

India had been making its soldiers acclimatize in Siachen Glacier like conditions for quite some time by 1984. In 1982, India sent a group of its soldiers to Antarctica for a training expedition. In 1983, India had also placed army in northern Ladakh region as well as some paramilitary forces to the glacier area. India had brought these arctic gears for both these expeditions in 1982 and 1983.

Some may call it Pakistan's misfortune and India's good fortune, Pakistan placed its orders for arctic gear to same supplier who had earlier supplied gears to India; and this is how RAW came to know about Pakistan's plans.

What led to Siachin escalation?

Though both countries had claims over different peaks in Siachin, none had stationed troops there before 1984, Expeditions used to happen from both sides, but Pakistan certainly had an advantage as the glacier was more accessible from PoK and Aksai Chin controlled by China after 1962 war.

Reuters

The glacier became a bone of contention following a vague demarcation of territory as per the Simla Agreement of 1972, which did not exactly specify who had authority over the Siachen Glacier area. India claimed that Pakistan territory extended only to about the Saltoro Ridge while Pakistan claimed its territory till Karakoram Pass.

As a result, both the nations claimed the barren heights and the Siachen Glacier.

In the 1970s and early 80s, Pakistan permitted several mountaineering expeditions to Siachen from Pakistani sides to reinforce its claims on the area as these expeditions were mostly led by officers of Pakistan army. In response, India too allowed mountaineering expeditions to the glacier, approaching from its side in 1978.

But India got suspicious after Pakistan allowed a Japanese expedition to scale an important peak (Rimo I) in early 1984. The peak, located east of the Siachen Glacier, also overlooks the northwestern areas of the Aksai Chin area, which is occupied by China but claimed by India.

AFP

India thought that such an expeditions could consolidate a trade route from the northeastern (Chinese) to the southwestern (Pakistani) side of the Karakoram Range and eventually provide a strategic advantage to the Pakistani Army.

What India seized through 'Operation Meghdoot'

In 1987 and 1989, Pakistan again used force to recapture heights under the leadership of none other former army despot General Pervez Musharraf. Despite initial success, the attack was repulsed. In 1987, India won one Pakistan post "Quaid", when Bana Singh launched a daring daylight attack, named 'Operation Rajiv', after climbing 1,500 ft (460 m) of ice cliff.

Later, Bana Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra (PVC)- the highest gallantry award of India.

Reuters

Years later, General Musharraf stated to Times Magazine in an interview that Pakistan lost almost 900 sq mi (2,300 km2) of territory during conflict in 1984. He also stated that the Indian advance captured nearly 1,000 sq mi (2,600 km2) of territory claimed by Pakistan.

Kargil was Pakistan's attempt to avenge Siachen

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In 1999, Pakistan with the help of terrorists captured over 140 post in Kargil heights vacated by India during winters. The attempt was to do what Indians had done in Siachen in 1984 and the rest is history.