In 1986-1987, India conducted Operation Brasstacks, the largest military exercise in its history. However, beneath the surface of this massive military operation was a covert plan for an Indo-Israeli airstrike on Pakistan’s nuclear facility in Kahuta. This article explores the covert plans behind Operation Brasstacks:How the Indo-Israeli Airstrike Was Planned on Pakistan’s Nuclear Facility Under the Cover of Military Exercise.
Background of Operation Brasstacks
India officially described Operation Brasstacks as a large-scale military exercise to improve readiness. However, its size and scope alarmed Pakistan.
Mobilising more than 500,000 troops along the border made the operation look like a direct threat. Amid these tensions, the true aim of the operation became clear: it was to plan an Indo-Israeli airstrike on Pakistan’s nuclear facility while pretending it was merely an exercise. Pakistan feared that India, with Israel’s help, was preparing for more than just a drill.
The Israeli Role in the Airstrike Plan
During Operation Brasstacks, Israel grew concerned about Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions. The centre of Indian-Israeli cooperation was Pakistan’s Kahuta nuclear facility. Israel planned a covert move to show its readiness to act.
Israeli F-15 fighter jets secretly landed in Kashmir during the exercise. This landing signalled Israel’s willingness to help India attack Kahuta. Israeli involvement became a crucial part of Operation Brasstacks and its hidden objectives.
Planning the Strike on Kahuta
The detailed plan to strike Kahuta during Operation Brasstacks outlined how the Indo-Israeli airstrike was planned on Pakistan’s nuclear facility under the cover of a military exercise. Indian and Israeli military officials had reportedly discussed launching a joint airstrike, with India leading the mission and Israel providing technological support and intelligence.
Planners carefully chose the route, timing, and munition types under the guise of the ongoing military exercise. Yet Operation Brasstacks relied on strict secrecy to prevent diplomatic fallout over the Indo-Israeli plan to strike Pakistan’s nuclear facility.
Pakistan’s Response and High Alert
As soon as Pakistan suspected foul play during Operation Brasstacks, it placed its air force on high alert. The Pakistan Air Force closely monitored Indian movements, preparing for any sign of escalation. With Israeli aircraft landing in the Kashmir region, Pakistani leadership knew that the situation could escalate quickly.
Defence officials in Pakistan made it clear that they would respond devastatingly to any attack on their nuclear facility at Kahuta. They threatened to destroy Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility if they struck Kahuta. This show of determination sent a strong signal to both India and Israel, warning them of the consequences of such an attack.
Escalation and India’s Backtrack
As tensions escalated during Operation Brasstacks: How the Indo-Israeli Airstrike Was Planned on Pakistan’s Nuclear Facility Under the Cover of Military Exercise, India re-examined its options. The risks of retaliation from Pakistan, particularly given the high alert status of the Pakistani Air Force, became too significant to ignore.
The plan to strike Kahuta was called off, partly because Pakistan realised it would respond accordingly. The spectre of a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan was enough to halt the operation. Additionally, international pressure from superpowers like the United States and the Soviet Union further convinced Indian leadership to de-escalate. The Indian Air Force, aware of the severe backlash they might face, backed off from the planned attack.
The Aftermath
Though the strike on Kahuta never occurred, Operation Brasstacks remains a crucial chapter in South Asian military history, detailing how the Indo-Israeli airstrike was planned on Pakistan’s nuclear facility under the cover of a military exercise. The event demonstrated how quickly military exercises can escalate into potential conflicts. It also underscored the complex relationships between nations like India and Israel and their shared concerns over nuclear proliferation.
Pakistan’s firm response, including threats against Israel’s Dimona facility, played a significant role in halting the planned attack. Meanwhile, Israel demonstrated its strategic intent to block Pakistan from becoming a nuclear-armed state by involving itself in Operation Brasstacks.
Conclusion
Operation Brasstacks: How the Indo-Israeli Airstrike Was Planned on Pakistan’s Nuclear Facility Under the Cover of Military Exercise highlights the fragile balance of power in South Asia. While the strike never materialised, the operation serves as a stark indication of the ever-present risks of military escalation between nuclear-armed nations.
Both India and Israel saw Pakistan’s nuclear capability as a serious threat. However, the potential for catastrophic consequences, including nuclear retaliation, forced the Indo-Israeli coalition to reconsider their actions. Lessons from Operation Brasstacks reveal how India and Israel planned the airstrike on Pakistan’s nuclear facility under the cover of a military exercise.
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