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Operation Kaveri
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| Operation Kaveri | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Evacuation of foreign nationals during the 2023 Sudan conflict and Battle of Khartoum | |
| Operational scope | Humanitarian relief |
| Planned by | Indian Armed Forces and Ministry of External Affairs |
| Commanded by | General |
| Objective | Evacuation of Indian citizens from Sudan |
| Date | 24 April — 5 May 2023[1] |
| Executed by | Indian Armed Forces |
| Outcome | Nearly 3,862 evacuated as of 5 May 2023. |
Operation Kaveri (Hindi: कावेरी romanized: Kaveri, lit. Kaveri River) was an operation conducted by the Indian Armed Forces to evacuate Indian citizens and foreign nationals from Sudan during the 2023 Sudan conflict.[2][3] The evacuation was conducted by air and sea, most likely in Port Sudan where most of the evacuations were done by Indian Navy through INS Sumedha.[4] The operation was conducted for the evacuations of thousands of Indians in Sudan, primarily in Khartoum, the capital of the country.
Background
[edit]The history of conflicts in Sudan has consisted of foreign invasions and resistance, ethnic tensions, religious disputes, and competition over resources. In its modern history, two civil wars between the central government and the southern regions killed 1.5 million people, and a continuing conflict in the western region of Darfur has displaced two million people and killed more than 200,000 people.[5] Since independence in 1956, Sudan has had more than fifteen military coups and it has also been ruled by the military for the majority of the republic's existence, with only brief periods of democratic civilian parliamentary rule.[6]
On 15 April 2023, the RSF launched a surprise attack on multiple Sudanese Army bases across the country, including in the capital Khartoum. At 12:00 (CAT),[7] RSF forces claimed to have captured Khartoum International Airport, Merowe Airport, El Obeid Airport as well as a base in Soba. Clashes between RSF and the Army erupted at the Presidential Palace and at the residence of General al-Burhan, with both sides claiming control over the two sites.[8]
Operation
[edit]Alarmed by the growing tensions and the conflict, India joined several other countries to make a massive evacuation of nationals and citizens from Sudan, the next day India announced the start of Operation Kaveri as 500 Indians were reported in Port Sudan.[9]
On 24 April, External Affairs Ministry said two C-130J aircraft and Garud Commando Force operatives of the Indian Air Force were on standby in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as part of preparations for evacuation, while the Indian Navy's INS Sumedha had reached Port Sudan.[10]
On 25 April, 278 Indians[11] were transported by sea to INS Sumedha.[12]
On the night of April 27–28, a C-130J aircraft of the Indian Air Force with 121 Indians took off from Wadi Seidna Air Base. The flight was dangerous, as fighting was going on in this area (later a Turkish plane would come under fire here).[13] Approaching the airstrip, the IAF pilots used their onboard electro-optical and infrared sensors to ensure that the runway was free of obstructions and no inimical forces were in the vicinity. The pilots adopted a tactical approach—as done in war zones—using night vision goggles. On landing, the aircraft engines were kept running while eight IAF Garud commandos, fully armed with automatic weapons, located, verified and secured the passengers and their luggage into the aircraft. The take-off from the runway was again carried out with night vision goggles.[14]
A total of 754 Indian citizens were evacuated on 28 April. Among those rescued was an employee of the French diplomatic mission, as well as his family.[14][15]
Nearly 2,400 Indian citizens evacuated from Sudan as of 29 April 2023.[16]
Nearly 231 Indian citizens (most of them from Gujarat) were evacuated from Sudan on 2 May 2023.[17]
India completed the evacuation of Hakki Pikki tribe members of Karnataka from Sudan. The Indian evacuees including the Hakki Pikki tribes were housed in a school in Port Sudan, before being flown to Jiddah.[18]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ भाषा, पीटीआई- (6 May 2023). "खत्म हुआ 'ऑपरेशन कावेरी'! सेना की 17 उड़ानें, नौसेना के 5 जहाज, सूडान से वापस आए 3862 भारतीय". www.abplive.com (in Hindi).
- ^ "India launches Operation Kaveri to evacuate its nationals from Sudan". Deccan Herald. 24 April 2023. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Bhattacherjee, Kallol (24 April 2023). "India launches Operation Kaveri to evacuate stranded citizens from war-hit Sudan". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ "India begins evacuating citizens from Sudan under 'Operation Kaveri'". WION. 24 April 2023. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "Sudan: 'I haven't slept, I'm terrified,' says Khartoum resident as fighting rages". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "Military Rule No Longer Viable in Sudan: Analyst". VOA. 22 October 2022. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "Sudan: Army and RSF battle over key sites, leaving 56 civilians dead". BBC News. 15 April 2023. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "السودان في ثاني أيام المعارك.. اتساع المواجهات بين الجيش والدعم السريع وفتح ممرات إنسانية لفترة وجيزة". www.aljazeera.net (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "Highlights: India's Operation Kaveri To Evacuate Citizens From Sudan Begins". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "IAF planes on standby, INS Sumedha at Port Sudan as India seeks to expedite evacuation from Sudan". Economic Times. 22 April 2023. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "First batch of 278 Indians leaves crisis-hit Sudan under Operation Kaveri". Deccan Herald. 25 April 2023. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "India begins evacuation from Sudan; 278 Indians board naval ship to Jeddah". Hindustan Times. 25 April 2023. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "Turkish evacuation plane shot at while landing in Sudan". Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ a b "IAF pilots land aircraft on unlit runway to rescue 121". Tribune India. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ "No Light on Sudan Airstrip, IAF Pilots Use Night Vision Goggles For Landing; Rescue 121 People". News18. 28 April 2023. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ "Sudan crisis: Rival forces violate ceasefire as fighting rages, India rescues nearly 2,400 citizens | 5 points". India Today. 29 April 2023. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ "Sudan crisis: 231 Indians reach Ahmedabad from Jeddah". The Hindu. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ Bhattacherjee, Kallol (4 May 2023). "Operation Kaveri | India completes risky evacuation of most of the Hakki Pikki tribe members from Sudan". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
Operation Kaveri
View on GrokipediaOperation Kaveri was a rescue operation launched by the Government of India on 24 April 2023 to evacuate approximately 3,000 Indian citizens stranded in Sudan amid the escalating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.[1][2] The operation involved coordination among the Indian Navy, Air Force, Ministry of External Affairs, and embassy personnel in Sudan, utilizing naval vessels for sea evacuation from Port Sudan and C-130J aircraft for airlifts to India, with evacuees first assembled at a safe transit camp.[1] By its conclusion, Operation Kaveri successfully repatriated 4,097 individuals, including 136 foreign nationals from neighboring countries, demonstrating efficient logistical execution without reported major incidents or losses.[3] Evacuees underwent mandatory quarantine upon arrival in India for yellow fever screening, reflecting adherence to health protocols in the region.[1] The mission underscored India's proactive approach to protecting its diaspora in conflict zones, leveraging prepositioned military assets in the Indian Ocean region for rapid response.[4]
Historical Context
The 2023 Sudan Conflict
The 2023 Sudan conflict erupted on April 15, 2023, when clashes broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), commanded by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti).[5][6] The immediate trigger involved mutual accusations of initiating violence, with explosions and heavy gunfire reported across Khartoum, but the underlying tensions traced to unresolved power-sharing disputes in Sudan's post-2019 transitional framework following the ouster of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir.[5][7] Specifically, the factions clashed over the pace of integrating RSF units into the regular SAF structure and the timeline for transitioning to civilian rule, reflecting entrenched rivalries between the two military entities that had previously allied against protesters but prioritized control over reform.[8][9] Fighting rapidly escalated into intense urban battles centered in Khartoum, with RSF forces seizing key sites like the presidential palace and international airport, while SAF mounted counteroffensives from bases outside the capital.[5] By late April 2023, combat had spread to Port Sudan and other regions, causing hundreds of confirmed deaths in the initial weeks and disrupting essential infrastructure, including power grids and water supplies, amid reports of looting and civilian targeting by both sides.[6][10] This progression displaced over 800,000 people internally by May, exacerbating pre-existing vulnerabilities in a country already strained by economic collapse and famine risks, as factional commanders pursued territorial dominance rather than de-escalation.[11] International mediation efforts, such as the 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia on April 24, 2023, collapsed almost immediately due to reported violations including airstrikes and ground assaults, underscoring the limited leverage of external diplomacy against the commanders' competing interests in resource control and political supremacy.[10][12] Subsequent short truces fared no better, as neither Burhan nor Hemedti demonstrated willingness to concede ground, perpetuating a stalemate driven by asymmetric warfare tactics and external backing that favored prolongation over compromise.[13]Indian Nationals in Sudan
Prior to the outbreak of conflict on April 15, 2023, approximately 3,500 Indian nationals resided in Sudan, with a significant concentration in Khartoum and its environs.[14] This expatriate population included around 2,800 non-resident Indians alongside a smaller settled community, many of whom lacked extensive local kinship or institutional networks for crisis response.[15] The demographic profile featured predominantly students enrolled in medical and technical programs at Sudanese universities, drawn by relatively low-cost education opportunities compared to India, as well as workers in sectors such as agriculture (including cotton farming in areas like Tokar), trade, pharmaceuticals, and energy services.[16][17] These individuals depended on Sudan's pre-conflict stability for academic pursuits and livelihood, often remitting earnings to families in India while operating in a foreign environment with limited integration into Sudanese society. Initial violence in Khartoum's densely populated student neighborhoods exposed these expatriates to immediate perils, including disruptions to essential supplies and mobility. Early accounts highlighted stranded Indians confronting severe shortages of food, water, and medicine, compounded by looting and crossfire that hindered safe passage from conflict zones.[18][19]Initiation and Planning
Government Decision-Making
The outbreak of armed conflict in Sudan on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces prompted immediate activation of India's crisis response protocols, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) directing the Indian Embassy in Khartoum to issue safety advisories to an estimated 3,000 Indian nationals present in the country.[20] These alerts, disseminated between April 15 and April 20, urged citizens to remain indoors, avoid conflict zones near the embassy, and, where feasible, self-evacuate to relatively secure locations such as Port Sudan using private or commercial transport, reflecting an initial emphasis on precautionary measures amid intelligence reports of intensifying urban combat in Khartoum.[21] [22] Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a high-level National Security Council (NSC) meeting on April 21, 2023, to evaluate the deteriorating security environment and risks to Indian lives, prioritizing non-combatant evacuation logistics over attempts at mediating the Sudanese power struggle, given India's neutral stance and ongoing contacts with both warring factions.[23] [24] This deliberation underscored causal assessments of limited diplomatic leverage amid the conflict's rapid escalation, leading to authorization of a dedicated military-assisted extraction operation coordinated across MEA, the Ministry of Defence, and other inter-ministerial bodies.[25] The government's resolve culminated in the formal launch of Operation Kaveri on April 24, 2023, as announced by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, enabling structured evacuations from Port Sudan via naval and air assets while embassy teams facilitated initial overland movements from Khartoum starting April 23.[26] [27] This decision tree—rooted in empirical tracking of casualty risks and mobility constraints—favored proactive humanitarian extraction, bypassing reliance on fragile ceasefires or third-party assurances.[28]Naming and Strategic Objectives
Operation Kaveri derives its name from the Kaveri River, a major waterway in southern India revered as the sacred Goddess Kaveriamma, embodying maternal resolve to guide and protect dependents through adversity by surmounting natural barriers.[29] This symbolism underscores the operation's emphasis on resilient, non-confrontational facilitation of safe passage for evacuees, prioritizing humanitarian transit over military engagement in the host nation's conflict.[29] The core strategic objectives centered on the expeditious and secure repatriation of approximately 3,000-4,000 registered Indian nationals trapped in Sudan following the outbreak of hostilities on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.[1] The Ministry of External Affairs framed the mission as a rescue effort to safeguard citizens' welfare amid deteriorating security, employing air and maritime assets for extraction without intervening in Sudan's domestic power dynamics.[25] Secondary aims encompassed limited support for third-country nationals, as evidenced by the evacuation of 136 foreigners alongside Indians, contingent on operational feasibility and coordination with international partners.[30] Operationally, objectives were structured in phases: initial establishment of safe houses in high-risk areas like Khartoum to consolidate evacuees, followed by protected overland convoys to secure assembly points such as Port Sudan for onward transit.[1] These goals, as articulated in Ministry of External Affairs updates, emphasized registration-driven prioritization to ensure comprehensive coverage of vulnerable Indians, including students and workers, while minimizing exposure to combat zones.[3] The approach reflected a commitment to causal efficiency in humanitarian extraction, leveraging India's diplomatic and military prepositioning in the region for rapid response.[1]Operational Execution
Deployment of Military Assets
The Indian Navy deployed corvette INS Sumedha, diverted from routine patrol duties, to Port Sudan in the Red Sea region to facilitate maritime evacuation of Indian nationals to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, arriving on April 25, 2023.[31][32] INS Teg subsequently joined the operation at the port to support additional sea lifts, contributing to a total of five naval sorties conducted without involvement in combat activities.[33][34] These assets focused on providing secure transit for evacuees, leveraging their anti-submarine and surveillance capabilities for maritime domain awareness in the non-interventionist framework.[35] The Indian Air Force mobilized heavy-lift C-17 Globemaster III aircraft for long-range transport missions, including refueling stops at Jeddah to enable direct returns to India, alongside C-130J Super Hercules for tactical airlifts from inland sites like Wadi Seidna Air Base to the Saudi transit hub.[36][37] These platforms, operated by specialized crews including Garud commandos for security, executed operations emphasizing rapid extraction and minimal ground presence to mitigate risks in the conflict zone.[38][39] Ground logistics were handled primarily by Indian embassy teams in Sudan, who coordinated with local drivers and authorities to arrange bus convoys from Khartoum and other areas to evacuation points like Port Sudan and Wadi Seidna, relying on hired civilian transport to avoid direct military engagement and escalation.[40][28] This approach integrated diplomatic channels with minimal armed personnel for on-site support, ensuring compliance with the operation's humanitarian and non-combat mandate.[41]Evacuation Phases and Routes
The evacuation under Operation Kaveri proceeded in distinct phases, beginning with limited direct air extractions from conflict zones near Khartoum amid brief lulls in fighting, followed by predominant overland movements to safer coastal areas for maritime and aerial transit to intermediate hubs. The initial phase capitalized on a narrow operational window during a humanitarian pause in hostilities announced on April 24, 2023, though the primary airlift occurred slightly later due to logistical constraints and security risks.[42][37] In the first phase, from April 27 to 28, 2023, an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft conducted a high-risk night extraction from Wadi Seidna Air Base, approximately 40 kilometers north of Khartoum, evacuating 121 Indian nationals using night-vision capabilities on an unlit, World War II-era runway amid ongoing skirmishes.[37][43][44] This sortie flew directly to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, bypassing Port Sudan due to the acute dangers of road travel from the capital at that stage, with evacuees subsequently routed to India via commercial and military flights.[45] Preceding this, informal overland movements began as early as April 23, with the Indian Embassy coordinating buses to shift small groups toward Port Sudan, setting the stage for scaled-up convoys.[28] Subsequent phases, spanning late April to early May 2023, shifted to organized overland convoys covering roughly 850 kilometers from Khartoum and peripheral areas to Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast, utilizing over 60 buses in multiple runs to transport the bulk of evacuees.[46] From Port Sudan, extractions involved a combination of Indian Navy ships—such as INS Sumedha and INS Teg—for sea voyages to Jeddah (with five ship sorties recorded) and Indian Air Force flights for rapid transfers (comprising 17 sorties).[47][48] For instance, the inaugural naval batch of 278 departed Port Sudan on April 25 aboard INS Sumedha, arriving in Jeddah the following day.[49] Evacuee accountability was maintained through real-time registration via the Ministry of External Affairs' portal and mobile applications, enabling precise tracking from assembly points to final repatriation flights to Indian cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.[25] The operation concluded by May 5, 2023, with all routes funneling through Jeddah as the primary transit node, facilitated by Saudi cooperation for staging and onward commercial flights, having safely extracted over 3,800 Indian nationals and select foreigners via these sequenced movements.[47][25]On-Ground Challenges and Adaptations
The ongoing clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted on April 15, 2023, severely disrupted transportation infrastructure, rendering Khartoum's international airport inoperable and making road travel hazardous due to crossfire and checkpoints.[2] Evacuees faced intense fighting that blocked primary evacuation routes, compelling Indian authorities to rely on improvised overland convoys via buses from Khartoum to Port Sudan, approximately 800 kilometers away, under negotiated safe passages that were frequently compromised by renewed hostilities.[21] These ad-hoc corridors demanded real-time adjustments, including pauses during flare-ups and reliance on temporary ceasefires, such as the 72-hour truce in late April, to facilitate movement.[50] Supply chain disruptions exacerbated vulnerabilities at assembly points, where access to food, water, and medical supplies was curtailed by the conflict's impact on utilities and markets, leaving stranded Indians in fear of shortages amid halted electricity and water services.[2] [51] The Indian Embassy in Khartoum mitigated these issues by distributing prepositioned stocks of essentials to gathering points, enabling sustainment of evacuees prior to transit, though distribution remained precarious due to sporadic violence interrupting logistics.[52] Coordination with both SAF and RSF was essential for securing assurances of safe passage, yet these pacts were tested by intermittent violations as fighting persisted, necessitating adaptive measures like escorting convoys with naval assets such as INS Sumitra off Port Sudan.[53] A notable adaptation occurred on the night of April 27-28, 2023, when Indian Air Force Garud commandos and pilots executed a high-risk extraction of 121 personnel from the unlit Wadi Seidna airstrip north of Khartoum, employing night vision goggles and keeping aircraft engines running for rapid departure amid the absence of navigational aids.[37] [54] This operation underscored the shift to nocturnal movements to evade combat zones, balancing urgency with minimized exposure to threats.[55]Outcomes and Assessment
Evacuation Statistics
Operation Kaveri evacuated a total of 4,097 individuals from Sudan by the operation's conclusion in May 2023, including 3,961 Indian nationals and 136 foreign nationals primarily from neighboring countries such as Nepal and Pakistan.[3][3] Evacuations were conducted via air and sea routes, with Indian Air Force aircraft completing 17 flights from forward locations like Wadi Seidna airbase to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, followed by onward transport to India; Indian Navy ships executed five sorties from Port Sudan, transporting the bulk of evacuees to the Jeddah hub.[34] Initial air extractions accounted for several hundred per flight in the early phases, while sea operations scaled up to handle larger groups amid ground access constraints.[34] No casualties among Indian nationals were reported during the extraction process itself, with all evacuees processed through biometric verification at Jeddah and registered via Ministry of External Affairs protocols to confirm identities and prevent duplication.[3][47]| Evacuation Category | Number Evacuated |
|---|---|
| Indian Nationals | 3,961 |
| Foreign Nationals | 136 |
| Total | 4,097 |
