Operation Brasstacks: India’s 1986 Military Drills in Rajasthan That Terrified Pakistan

Asianet News English

Operation Brasstacks was India’s largest-ever military exercise, conducted from November 1986 to March 1987 in Rajasthan. Involving nearly 500,000 troops, tanks, and air support, this unprecedented show of strength aimed to test India’s new mechanized warfare strategies and operational readiness. The sheer scale and proximity to the Pakistan border stunned the world and sent shockwaves through Islamabad, which feared an imminent invasion.&nbsp;

Transcript

00:00India is once again facing the grim reality of Pakistan-sponsored terror.

00:09The Pehelgaon massacre has claimed 26 innocent lives,

00:13reigniting tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.

00:25As India responds with diplomatic and military measures,

00:28history reminds us of another moment when the subcontinent stood on the edge of war.

00:42Operation Brass Stacks was the largest military exercise in Indian history

00:46and one of the biggest ever since World War II.

00:50Between November 1986 and March 1987,

00:54nearly 5 lakh Indian troops along with tanks, armoured vehicles and air support

01:00were mobilised in Rajasthan just 100 miles from the Pakistan border.

01:11Planned by General K. Sundarji,

01:13Operation Brass Stacks aimed to test India's new mechanised warfare strategies

01:17and operational readiness.

01:19But for Pakistan, the scale and proximity of the exercise looked like a prelude to invasion,

01:25triggering a massive military response.

01:28As Indian forces massed on the border,

01:31Pakistan moved its own troops and armoured reserves into defensive positions.

01:35The crisis escalated when Pakistan's top nuclear scientist,

01:40Abdul Qadir Khan warned that Pakistan would use atomic weapons if its existence was threatened.

01:47Both sides cancelled military leave, evacuated civilians and prepared for the worst.

01:54At one point, bridges near Lahore were rigged with demolition mines and air defences were on high alert.

02:00The world watched as South Asia teethered on the brink of a catastrophic war.

02:07Ultimately, intense diplomatic efforts prevailed.

02:11In March 1987, both nations agreed to pull back troops and de-escalate the crisis,

02:17narrowly avoiding a devastating conflict.

02:20Nearly 40 years later, the lessons of Operation Brass Stacks echo as India faces new provocations.

02:29The scale of India's military might then and now sends a clear message.

02:35India will defend its sovereignty and any act of terror will be met with strength and resolve.

02:50India will defend its legacy upon the election.

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