Operation Pawan: Hundreds of Indian Soldiers Martyred, Many Bodies Never Found — What Really Happened in 1987?

Operation Pawan

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday paid homage to the soldiers who were martyred during Operation Pawan, a major military campaign carried out by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka in 1987.
For decades, no official remembrance day was observed for these soldiers; tributes were offered privately. This year, the Army Chief publicly honoured their sacrifice, bringing the operation back into national discussion.

Here is a detailed look at what Operation Pawan was, why India launched it, and what happened during the fierce battles of 1987–1990.

What Was Operation Pawan?

Operation Pawan was the codename for the Indian Army’s mission to disarm the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) in Sri Lanka.
It was launched in October 1987 as part of the Indo–Sri Lanka Accord, signed between Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President J. R. Jayawardene.

The Primary Objective

• To enforce peace in the civil-war-hit northern and eastern Sri Lanka

• To disarm LTTE militants

• To ensure safe civilian life in Tamil-majority regions

• To support the Sri Lankan government in stabilising the region

However, within weeks of the IPKF arriving, LTTE turned hostile, leading to a deadly war between the Indian Army and one of the most dangerous guerrilla groups in the world.

Why Did the Operation Turn Violent?

Initially, LTTE had agreed to surrender its weapons under the Accord.
But soon:

• LTTE accused India of favouring rival Tamil groups

• They refused to lay down arms

• A full-scale conflict erupted between LTTE and IPKF

This transformed the peacekeeping mission into a high-intensity counter-insurgency operation.

Casualties: India’s Heavy Losses

Operation Pawan is considered one of the costliest missions in Indian military history.

Indian Army Casualties

• Over 1,200 soldiers martyred

• More than 3,000 wounded

• Many soldiers’ bodies were never recovered due to dense forests and hostile zones

• Several soldiers went missing in action

The IPKF fought:

• Guerrilla warfare

• Landmine attacks

• Urban combat in Jaffna

• Brutal ambushes in jungles

The Battle of Jaffna University (1987) was one of the bloodiest operations, causing massive casualties on both sides.

When Did Operation Pawan End?

The Indian government finally decided to withdraw troops as:

• Public pressure grew in India

• Sri Lanka’s political situation changed

• Continuous conflict became unsustainable

The withdrawal of IPKF was completed by March 1990.

Legacy of Operation Pawan

Operation Pawan remains:

• One of India’s most difficult and controversial military missions

• A campaign that demonstrated Indian soldiers’ unmatched courage

• A reminder of the harsh realities of foreign intervention

General Upendra Dwivedi’s tribute marks a significant step toward recognizing the sacrifices of thousands of soldiers who fought under extreme conditions.