Indian Peace Keeping Force

File:Stamp of India - 1990 - Colnect 164138 - Indian Peace Keeping Operation in Sri Lanka|thumb|Stamp_of_India_-_1990_-_Colnect_164138_-_Indian_Peace_Keeping_Operation_in_Sri_Lanka]]]] == Indian Peace Keeping Force ==

The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was an Indian military contingent that was deployed in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990. The primary objective of the IPKF was to enforce the terms of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord and to disarm the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a militant organization that was fighting for an independent Tamil state in northern and eastern Sri Lanka.

Background[edit | edit source]

The deployment of the IPKF was a result of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, signed on 29 July 1987 by the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the Sri Lankan President J. R. Jayewardene. The accord aimed to resolve the ongoing Sri Lankan Civil War and to provide a framework for the devolution of power to the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka.

Deployment[edit | edit source]

The IPKF was initially welcomed by the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil population. However, the situation quickly deteriorated as the IPKF became embroiled in direct conflict with the LTTE. The force faced significant challenges, including unfamiliar terrain, guerrilla warfare tactics employed by the LTTE, and a lack of clear objectives.

Operations[edit | edit source]

The IPKF conducted several military operations against the LTTE, including Operation Pawan, which aimed to capture the LTTE stronghold of Jaffna. Despite initial successes, the IPKF struggled to maintain control over the region and faced increasing hostility from both the LTTE and the local population.

Withdrawal[edit | edit source]

The IPKF's mission in Sri Lanka became increasingly controversial in India, with growing public and political opposition to the continued deployment of Indian troops. In March 1990, the Indian government decided to withdraw the IPKF, and the last Indian soldiers left Sri Lanka by March 1990.

Aftermath[edit | edit source]

The withdrawal of the IPKF did not bring an end to the Sri Lankan Civil War, which continued until 2009. The IPKF's involvement in Sri Lanka remains a contentious issue, with debates over its effectiveness and the impact on Indo-Sri Lankan relations.