In October 1947, the Indian Army conducted a critical airlift operation to Srinagar, a move that halted a tribal invasion of Jammu and Kashmir and prevented the state’s summer capital from falling to advancing forces. The conflict followed the end of British rule in India, during which both India and Pakistan sought the accession of the princely state. The state of Jammu and Kashmir had been under the rule of the Dogra dynasty since 1846. By 1947, the region faced internal political unrest and external pressure regarding its future. While Pakistan anticipated the state’s integration due to its Muslim majority and geographic proximity, India recognized the region’s strategic importance. Tensions escalated after the state government accused Pakistan of disrupting essential supplies to force an accession. On October 22, 1947, a tribal invasion began under an operation codenamed ‘Operation Gulmarg.’ According to author Aashique Ahmed Iqbal in The Aeroplane and the Making of Modern India (2022), the force consisted of tribesmen from Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province who moved through West Punjab toward the Kashmir Valley. While Pakistan officially denied involvement until May 1948, historical accounts suggest the operation was planned by the provincial government of the Northwest Frontier Province with the tacit approval of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The invaders quickly seized Muzaffarabad, Domel, and Uri, aiming to capture Srinagar and its only airstrip. As the situation reached a crisis point, V.P. Menon, secretary of the Ministry of States, visited Srinagar on October 25. The following day, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession to India, providing the legal basis for Indian military intervention. The Indian government initiated an emergency airlift, forming an Army Airlift Committee to coordinate the deployment. Home Minister Vallabhbhai Patel issued an appeal for civilian aircraft, resulting in the assembly of approximately 25 planes, primarily Dakotas. The mission faced significant opposition from British commanders and Governor-General Lord Mountbatten, who cited the risks of navigating mountainous terrain and landing at an unequipped, potentially compromised airstrip. Despite these concerns, the airlift commenced on October 27, 1947. By November 6, India had successfully deployed 3,500 troops to the valley. The rapid arrival of forces allowed the Indian military to route the invaders, driving them back to Uri and securing the Kashmir Valley. The operation also facilitated the evacuation of approximately 400 British residents from Srinagar. The speed of the deployment led some observers to speculate that the intervention had been planned in advance. Ultimately, the operation underscored the strategic role of aviation in the conflict, providing the Indian government with a mechanism to intervene militarily while managing the escalation of the regional crisis.
Article source: Indian Express | Image credit: Indian Express