Operation Cactus: Drama in the Maldives

By V.P. Malik

Operation Cactus was a unique mission for the Indian Army. Within hours of receiving an appeal for assistance from the Government of Maldives, Indian troops rescued President Abdul Gayoom and foiled a coup detat attempt by rebel forces led by Abdullah Luthufi and assisted by the Tamil secessionist group from Sri Lanka, the People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE). On the notice of a few hours, the Indian military put together a strong task force that flew non-stop over 3,000 km, from Agra to Male, and restored the Maldive' government's control over its capital.
In this book, General V.P. Malik, Chief of the Indian Army from 1 October 1997 to 30 September 2000, tells the story of this coup and the alacrity, expertise and meticulousness with which it was executed. In the process he focuses on the decision-making processes that were followed at the political and military strategic levels as well as at the operational level. He writes about defence and military diplomacy and provides a historical as well as futuristic perspective on India's higher defence management.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harper XXI
• Release date: Sep 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9789351361343

V.P. Malik

General V.P. Malik was Chief of the Indian Army from 1 October 1997 to 30 September 2000. Concurrently, he was Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, for two years. He planned, coordinated and oversaw the execution of Operation Vijay to evict Pakistani military intrusion in Kargil in 1999.

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Operation Cactus: Drama in the Maldives

‘I am proud to report that our troops have carried out their assigned task [averting the coup in Maldives] in an exemplary fashion in the highest traditions of the Indian armed forces.’

– Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in Parliament

INTRODUCTION

Operation Cactus, planned and executed on 3–4 November 1988, was a unique mission. Within hours of receiving an appeal for assistance from the Government of Maldives, Indian troops rescued President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and foiled a coup d’état attempt by rebel forces. Our forces flew non-stop over 3,000 km, from Agra to Malé, and restored the Maldives’ government’s control over its capital.

My role in this operation was as a staff officer: a brigadier in the Military Operations Directorate of Army Headquarters. On that eventful day, I participated in the discussions that were held in the Operations Room, and later I was asked to accompany the Rapid Reaction Force (RRF) from Agra to the Maldives and work as a liaison officer. That task enabled me to witness first-hand the dedication, high spirits and determination of our paratroopers and airmen, and later our naval force. All of them deserve credit for the successful execution of Operation Cactus.

The Geography of the Maldives

The Republic of the Maldives is located 400 km south-west of India and 700 km from Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean. It comprises 1,192 coral islands, of which only 200 are inhabited. With an average ground level height of 1.5 m above sea level, the Maldives is the lowest nation on earth. The highest point in the country is at 2.4 m above sea level.

The Maldives gained independence from the British in 1965 and then became a republic. The first President, Ibrahim Nasir, ousted by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in 1978, fled the country and settled down in Singapore. His supporters made two unsuccessful attempts to topple the government in 1980 and 1983, but failed. Operation Cactus,