India’s Defence Minister Calls for Recognition of IPKF Sacrifice in Sri Lanka
January 15, Colombo (LNW): India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that the bravery and sacrifices of Indian soldiers deployed to Sri Lanka during Operation Pawan nearly forty years ago deserve far greater public recognition, suggesting that their contribution was insufficiently acknowledged in the decades that followed.
Speaking at an event marking Armed Forces Veterans’ Day, Singh said the current government is determined to honour those who served in the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) with openness and sincerity. He added that steps are being taken to ensure their role is recognised not only symbolically, but across official and institutional platforms.
As the country paused to remember its armed forces, the Defence Minister said it was important to also pay tribute to veterans who took part in India’s peacekeeping mission in Sri Lanka in the late 1980s. While noting that the political decision to deploy troops to the island could be debated, he stressed that there should be no disagreement over respecting the courage and sacrifice of the soldiers who carried out their duties under extremely challenging conditions.
Operation Pawan was launched after India and Sri Lanka signed a landmark peace accord in July 1987, following years of violence in the country’s Tamil-majority areas. Under the agreement, Indian troops were sent to help restore stability. However, the mission proved far more complex than anticipated, and lasting peace remained elusive. The IPKF was eventually withdrawn in 1990, after suffering heavy losses, with around 1,200 Indian soldiers killed during the deployment.
Singh praised the professionalism and valour shown by Indian forces during the operation, recalling that many paid the ultimate price while serving abroad. He said the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it a point to formally honour the IPKF’s contribution, including recognition at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
He also referred to Prime Minister Modi’s visits to Sri Lanka, during which tributes were paid to fallen IPKF soldiers at the memorial in Colombo, most recently during a visit last year. According to Singh, these gestures reflect a broader effort to ensure that the sacrifices made during Operation Pawan are remembered with dignity and respect, both in India and beyond.
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