OPERATION CACTUS🌵 🌵

 Operation Cactus was a military operation conducted by India in the Maldives in 1988, in response to a request for assistance from the Maldivian government. The operation involved the deployment of Indian armed forces to quell a coup attempt in the Maldives, which threatened to destabilize the Indian Ocean region. In this article, we will examine the background, execution, and aftermath of Operation Cactus.

👉Background

The Maldives is a small island nation located in the Indian Ocean, about 700 km southwest of India. The Maldives had been a British protectorate until 1965 when it became an independent country. The Maldives is a strategic location, situated at the crossroads of major sea lanes in the Indian Ocean, which makes it an important location for naval activities. In 1988, the Maldives was under the rule of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who had been in power since 1978.

In November 1988, a group of Maldivian rebels, led by Abdullah Luthufi, attempted a coup to overthrow President Gayoom's government. The rebels had received support from a group of Sri Lankan Tamil militants, who had been trained in India. The coup attempt took place at a time when President Gayoom was out of the country, attending the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit in Nepal. The rebels had taken control of the capital city of Male and the main airport, and were in the process of establishing a new government.

👉Execution

On receiving the news of the coup, the Indian government immediately swung into action. A task force was set up, which included members of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The task force was led by Major General H.M. Khanna, who was the Director-General of Military Operations.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) was the first to respond, with a detachment of eight transport planes and two helicopters. The IAF planes carried Indian paratroopers, who were dropped over Male and the airport. The paratroopers were able to take control of the airport and establish a foothold in Male. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy dispatched a flotilla of warships, which included an aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, two destroyers, and three frigates. The naval forces were under the command of Rear Admiral S.M. Nanda, who was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.

The naval forces arrived off the coast of Male in the early hours of November 4, 1988. The warships launched a combined assault on the rebel-held positions in Male, which were fortified with sandbag barricades and machine-gun emplacements. The Indian Navy employed heavy naval gunfire, which silenced the rebel-held positions. The paratroopers, supported by the Indian Navy and the Maldivian National Security Service, were able to dislodge the rebels from the city and the airport.

The operation was a resounding success, with the rebels surrendering within hours of the Indian armed forces taking control of Male. The operation was conducted with minimal casualties, with only one Indian soldier and one Maldivian National Security Service officer losing their lives.

👉Aftermath

The success of Operation Cactus was a significant achievement for India, which demonstrated its ability to project military power in the Indian Ocean region. The operation was also a crucial moment for the Maldives, which would have faced severe repercussions if the coup attempt had succeeded. The operation prevented the Maldives from falling into chaos and instability, and allowed President Gayoom's government to regain control of the country.

Operation Cactus also highlighted the close relationship between India and the Maldives, which has been strengthened over the years. India has played a critical role in the development of the Maldives.