The then Commanding Officer of 44 Squadron that spearheaded Operation Cactus—the IAF’s airborne assault in the Maldives to rescue President Gayoom in 1988—gives a poignant account of the determination and dare that snatched victory within 24 hours.

In the early hours of November 3 in 1988, a call from Maldives to a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs in India informed of an attack by rebels that had forced President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to go into hiding. Maldives was seeking military help to defeat the coup, would India help? Indeed India would, was the reply. The Joint Secretary rang up army, navy and air HQs to activate necessary forces.

At Agra, 44 Squadron got three IL-76s ready at 1000 hours and 50 Independent Parachute Brigade got 6 Para ready as the vanguard and rest of the brigade as back up by 1200 hours. While firm orders were awaited, 44 Squadron aircrew made plans on how to get to Hulule, the island with a runway of just 6,800 ft. Would it be a landing or a para-drop to capture the runway? What factors would impact on the para-drop and what were the imponderables for a direct landing? Had the rebels attacked the airport? How strong in numbers were they, what weapons were they using, were they locals or mercenaries? Such thoughts exercised minds in 44 Squadron and Para Brigade. Pilots and navigators studied maps and charts to decide what routes to follow and maintain absolute secrecy. Colonel Joshi, the CO of 6 Para, and Brigadier Bulsara, Commander of the Brigade made plans on how to capture the runway after a para-drop. Intelligence was very scanty, the rebels numbered around 250, were armed with medium machine guns, rocket propelled grenades and some inputs spoke of SAMs. Determined bunch.