Britain Admits Helping India In Operation Bluestar, But Says It Had ‘Limited’ Impact

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LONDON – Britain onTuesday revealed that the adviceoffered to the Indira Gandhigovernment before OperationBluestar in 1984 was “fundamentallydifferent” from whatwas carried out under the operation.The disclosure confirmsIndian commanders’ view thatthe military operation was carriedout without British involvement.Presenting an inquiry report inthe House of Commons, foreignsecretary William Haguesaid the military operationmounted in June 1984 atAmritsar’s Golden Templecomplex differed from theadvice given by a British officerin February that year, whichfocussed on the element of surpriseand the use of helicopterborneforces to flush out Sikhmilitants.The inquiry by cabinet secretaryJeremy Haywood was set up byUK Prime Minister DavidCameron, following release ofdocuments by the NationalArchives in January that suggesteda British involvement inOperation Bluestar. The documentssparked much concernand reopened old wounds in theSikh community.Hague said, “In sum, the cabinetsecretary’s report finds thatthe nature of the UK’s assistancewas purely advisory, limitedand provided to the Indiangovernment at an early stage;that it had limited impact on thetragic events that unfolded atthe temple three months later;that there was no link betweenthe provision of this advice anddefence sales; and that there isno record of the governmentreceiving advance notice of theoperation.”The report includes an analysisby current military staff of theextent to which the actual operationin June 1984 differed fromthe approach recommended bythe UK military adviser.“Operation Bluestar was aground assault, without the elementof surprise, and without ahelicopter-borne element. Thecabinet secretary’s report, therefore,concludes that the UKmilitary officer’s advice had limitedimpact on OperationBluestar,” said Hague.