|
Operation Gibraltar was the codename given to the strategy of Pakistan to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir, and start a rebellion against Indian rule. If successful, Pakistan hoped to gain control over Kashmir, but the operation resulted in a "Major Failure". In August 1965, Pakistan Army's 50th Airborne paratroopers and Pakistan Army's guerrillas, disguised as locals, entered Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan with the goal of fomenting an insurgency among Kashmiri Muslims. However, the strategy went awry from the outset due to poor coordination, and the infiltrators were soon discovered. The operation sparked the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the first major engagement between the two neighbours since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. ==Background== In 1947 at the time of the division of the Sub-continent, Sir Cyril Radcliffe was given the charge of the boundary commission formed under the supervision of British viceroy Lord Mountbatten. The commission had decided to incorporate Muslim majority areas into the to-be formed Pakistan territory, while the non-Muslim areas were to be incorporated in India. Many territories like Jammu and Kashmir, Gurdaaspur, Ferozpur, had a Muslim majority but were incorporated into India because they were princely states and the local kings were given opportunity to join either Pakistan or India. This caused a strong revolt in Kashmir, in which there were 86% Muslims. This was the basis of the Indo-Pak wars over Kashmir. Following the First Kashmir War which saw India maintaining its hold over two-third of Kashmir, Pakistan sought an opportunity to win remaining Kashmir areas. The opening came after the Sino-Indian War in 1962 after India's war with the China and as a result the Indian Military was undergoing massive changes both in personnel and equipment. During this period, despite being numerically smaller than the Indian Military, Pakistan's armed forces had a qualitative edge in air power and armour over India,〔"India and the United States estranged democracies", 1941–1991, ISBN 1-4289-8189-6, DIANE Publishing, pp 235, 238〕 which Pakistan sought to utilise before India completed its defence build-up. The Rann of Kutch episode in the summer of 1965, where Indian and Pakistani forces clashed, resulted in some positives for Pakistan. Moreover, in December 1963, the disappearance of a holy relic〔It is believed to be the hair of Islamic prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam〕 from the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, created turmoil and intense Islamic feeling among Muslims in the valley, which was viewed by Pakistan as ideal for revolt.〔Kashmir in Conflict: India, Pakistan and the Unending War By Victoria Schofield Published by I.B.Tauris, pp 108, ISBN 1-86064-898-3, 2003〕 These factors bolstered the Pakistani command's thinking: that the use of covert methods followed by the threat of an all out war would force a resolution in Kashmir.〔(The Jammu and Kashmir conflict Overview ) by Meredith Weiss 25 June 2002 – Hosted on Yale University〕〔(The Fate of Kashmir International Law or Lawlessness? By Vikas Kapur and Vipin Narang ) Stanford Journal of International Relations, Stanford University〕〔(Pak Radio's claim of India starting 1965 war falls flat ) Malaysia Sun 21 September 2007〕 Assuming that a weakened Indian military would not respond, Pakistan chose to send in "mujahideens" and Pakistan Army regulars into Jammu and Kashmir. The original plan for the operation, codenamed Gibraltar, was prepared as early as the 1950s; however it seemed appropriate to push this plan forward given the scenario. Backed by then foreign minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and others, the aim was an "attack by infiltration" by a specially trained irregular force of some 40,000 men, highly motivated and well armed. It was reasoned that the conflict could be confined only to Kashmir. In the words of retired Pakistani General Akhtar Hussain Malik, the aims were "to defreeze the Kashmir problem, weaken Indian resolve, and bring India to the conference table without provoking general war."〔, pp 49〕 As a result, groundwork and intelligence gathering for execution of the plan was laid by launching "Operation Nusrat", the purpose of which was to locate gaps in the Cease Fire Line (CFL) that were to serve as entry points for the mujahideen, and to gauge the response of the Indian army and the local population. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Operation Gibraltar」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|