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Operation Rajiv was an Indian Army operation to capture the highest peak in the Siachen area in 1987. The Pakistan Army had established a post (called the Quaid Post) on the top of the strategically located peak, threatening the Indian movement in the area. An Indian task foce, led by Major Varinder Singh, launched multiple attacks to capture the Post. After three unsuccessful attempts, a team led by Naib Subedar Bana Singh captured the Post. The peak was renamed Bana Top in honour of Bana Singh, who was awarded India's highest military award Param Vir Chakra for his courage. The operation was named after Second Lieutenant Rajiv Pande, who had been killed during an earlier attempt to capture the peak. == Background == The Siachen area, which lies in a territory disputed by India and Pakistan, is the highest battleground on earth. In 1984, India captured the area during Operation Meghdoot. Later, Pakistan launched an assault in the area, gaining control of the highest peak in the area, which is located to the south of Bilafond La. In April 1986, the Pakistanis established a military post on the peak. Prior to the Pakistani capture, the Indians called this peak as the "Left Shoulder" of the Bilafond La. The Pakistanis named the peak "Quaid Post" in honour of their leader Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.〔 The Quaid Post was manned by soldiers of the Shaheen Company (3rd commando battalion), a part of Pakistan's Special Services Group. It was commanded by Subedar Ataullah Mohammed.〔 Pakistani troops' position at the peak gave them a clear view of the Indian movement in the Saltoro-Siachen area. The Siachen glacier, located about 15 km away, could be seen from this peak with the naked eye. The Indian posts in the Bilafond La area, such as ''Amar'' and ''Sonam'', were accessible only by air. ''Amar'' was located to the south of the Quaid Post, while ''Sonam'' was located to its north-west.〔 Pakistan's control of the Quaid Post allowed them to dominate these posts, and prevent supplies to them.〔 The Quaid Post was located at an altitude of 21,153 feet. It was extremely difficult to attack, as it was surrounded by 457 m high ice walls.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Naib Subedar Bana Singh )〕 It had an inclination of 80° to 85° on three sides, and a little less on the fourth side. It was very difficult for the attackers to climb up the peak without getting noticed by the Pakistani soldiers stationed at the top. The scarcity of oxygen made walking long distances difficult, as the troops had to halt every few meters to regain their breath. There were also frequent blizzards, and taking advantage of poor visibility at night was difficult due to the wind chill factor. The minimum temperatures in the area were as low as -50 °C at that time.〔 On 18 April 1987, the Pakistani troops at Quaid Post fired on the Indian soldiers at ''Sonam'' (6,400 m), killing two of them. The Indian Army then launched a plan to evict the Pakistanis from the Quaid Post. The 8th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (8th JAK LI) was given the task of capturing the Quaid Post. On May 29, a 13-member JAK LI patrol led by Second Lieutenant Rajiv Pande was asked to identify the best approach route to the Post, and mark it with ropes. The group started climbing the ice wall leading to the Quaid Post, but was detected by the Pakistani soldiers, when it was just 30 m from the top. The Pakistanis opened fire with a heavy machine gun, killing 10 Indian soldiers, including Second Lieutenant Rajiv Pande.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Interview with Captain Bana Singh )〕 Before they were killed, the Indian soldiers managed to establish a number of footholds on the vertical ice wall with a pick axe, and had laid a rope to the top. 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 Rajiv」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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