The Legacy story of Operation Trident: A Daring Attack That Changed the Course of War

Let’s start the untold story of Operation Trident. In October 1971, a ship carrying two RAW spies approached the Karachi port. When the security personnel inspected it, the ship’s owner saved the spies by saying that they had smallpox. This allowed the ship to dock and under the cover of darkness, the spies captured crucial information using their cameras. From the Pakistan Navy’s secret ships to the newly installed anti-aircraft batteries, every detail was documented. The spies then sailed to Qatar and sent the information back to Delhi on reaching there. This information revealed Pakistan’s war preparations and became the cornerstone of India’s strategic plans.

Contents

Roots of the conflict: Why did Pakistan attack?India’s Naval Strategy: The Attack on Karachi Port Preparation for Operation Trident: India is now ready to attack Pakistan First attack: December 4, 1971 The Follow-Up Strike: December 6, 1971 Result: Changing the tide of war The Legacy of Operation Trident: Celebrating Navy Day

Roots of the conflict: Why did Pakistan attack?

After the 1947 partition, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) suffered economic neglect and cultural oppression from West Pakistan. Despite its large population and economic contributions, East Pakistan was underdeveloped, leading to unrest. In 1970, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s party won the elections with a landslide majority, but General Yahya Khan’s government rejected the results. Operation Searchlight, launched by the Pakistani Army in March 1971, brutally suppressed the independence movement in East Pakistan, resulting in massive atrocities and an estimated 2.8 to 3 million deaths. The genocide forced 10 million refugees to flee to India, which led India to support East Pakistan’s independence movement. At 6 am on 3 December 1971, Pakistan launched a surprise attack on 11 Indian airports, including Agra, Amritsar and Udhampur, to mimic Israel’s Six Day War strategy. However, Pakistan did not know that India was waiting for this provocation. This attack was in line with India’s two-month-old plan to give a decisive reply to Pakistan. But why did Pakistan attack?

India’s Naval Strategy: The Attack on Karachi Port

India’s military forces swung into action as soon as Pakistan’s 3 December attack began. The main strategy was to cripple Pakistan’s supply lines by targeting the Karachi port, the headquarters of the Pakistani Navy. Karachi housed Pakistan’s oil reserves and served as a vital hub for arms and supplies. Destroying Karachi would have cut off East Pakistan’s resources and weakened Pakistan’s overall war effort. Proceeding 26 kilometres from Karachi, INS Nirghat fired two missiles at the oil tanks in the port. The resulting explosions created a fiery plume that lit up the night sky. However, with Pakistani reinforcements approaching, the squadron retreated safely. The attack had devastated Karachi’s infrastructure, but the operation was not yet complete.

Preparation for Operation Trident: India is now ready to attack Pakistan

The Indian Navy’s Killer Squadron, led by Squadron Commander Babu Bhan Yadav, was tasked with this high-stakes mission. Equipped with Styx missiles and crucial intelligence, three Indian Navy ships—INS Nirghat, INS Nipat and INS Veer—set sail from Mumbai on December 4, 1971. The plan for the operation was clear: attack Karachi under the cover of darkness.

First attack: December 4, 1971

On December 4, 1971, the Indian naval ships halted 460 km from Karachi after a full day’s journey. They proceeded as night fell. At 10:30 pm, INS Nirghat detected PNS Khaibar, one of Pakistan’s most modern ships. A Styx missile was launched, which hit the stern of the ship and set it on fire. The second missile completely destroyed the Khaibar, causing it to sink along with 222 crew members. Meanwhile, INS Nipat targeted the cargo ship Van Challenger, carrying weapons for Pakistan. The missile attack turned the ship into a huge fireball. INS Veer destroyed another Pakistani naval ship, ensuring the initial success of the operation.

The Follow-Up Strike: December 6, 1971

Two days later, Pakistan, on high alert, and wanted to attacked on India but accidentally destroyed its own aircraft, P I S Zulfqar, because it suspected it to be an Indian aircraft. Taking advantage of the confusion, Indian Navy ships IES Trident, IES Vanash and IES Talwar decided to finish the job. On 8 December, they launched another series of missile attacks towards Pakistan, destroying the remaining oil tanks and other critical installations at Karachi port. Gave it This fire continued for seven days, which reduced Pakistan’s maritime capabilities and disrupted vital supplies.

Result: Changing the tide of war

Operation Trident was a resounding success, costing Pakistan approximately $3.5 billion in damages. With the destruction of Karachi, the Pakistani Air Force faced severe fuel shortages, and its naval operations came to a standstill. The Indian Navy’s dominance in the Indian Ocean was strengthened, ensuring that no ship could pass without its permission. This naval blockade and the destruction of supply lines played a key role in the eventual surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops in East Pakistan, leading to the creation of Bangladesh.

The Legacy of Operation Trident: Celebrating Navy Day

The success of Operation Trident is celebrated every year on 4 December as Navy Day in India. It is a testimony to the courage, strategy, and precision of the Indian Navy, which turned the tide of the 1971 war and etched its name in the pages of military history.
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