Operation Gibraltar: Pakistan’s Failed 1965 Plot to Seize Kashmir

In August 1965, Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar, a covert military plan to seize Jammu and Kashmir by inciting a rebellion against Indian control. The ambitious operation, driven by miscalculations, aimed to exploit perceived unrest in the region but collapsed due to poor execution and strong Indian resistance, sparking the Indo-Pak War of 1965.

The Plan’s Genesis
Conceived under General Ayub Khan’s regime, Operation Gibraltar sought to destabilize Kashmir through guerrilla warfare. Pakistan believed Kashmiris were disillusioned with India, especially after the 1963 theft of a sacred relic from Hazratbal Shrine. The plan involved infiltrating 7,000-10,000 trained fighters, dubbed “mujahids,” across the Line of Control (LoC). Disguised as locals, they were to sabotage Indian infrastructure and rally residents for an uprising, expecting a swift takeover.

Flawed Execution
The operation faltered from the start. Many infiltrators, drawn from Pakistan’s Northern Light Infantry and Azad Kashmir units, lacked local knowledge and spoke different dialects, arousing suspicion. Kashmiri civilians, far from supportive, reported their presence to Indian authorities. By early August, Indian forces, including the Jammu and Kashmir Police, intercepted radio communications and captured infiltrators, unraveling the plot. The operation’s secrecy was compromised, and its momentum fizzled.

India’s Robust Response
India’s swift counteraction crushed Gibraltar. The Indian Army launched operations to neutralize infiltrators, sealing key passes like Haji Pir by August 28. Pakistan’s escalation with Operation Grand Slam, targeting Akhnoor, prompted India to open a full-scale front, leading to the 1965 war. India’s decisive defense and international pressure forced Pakistan to retreat, with the Tashkent Agreement of 1966 restoring pre-war boundaries.

Lasting Consequences
Operation Gibraltar’s failure exposed Pakistan’s overconfidence and misreading of Kashmiri sentiment. It strained Pakistan’s economy and military, while India strengthened its grip on Kashmir. The war claimed thousands of lives, with estimates of 3,000-4,000 casualties per side. The operation remains a cautionary tale of strategic misadventure, highlighting the futility of covert aggression in a volatile region and cementing Kashmir’s status as a flashpoint in Indo-Pak relations.