Operation All Clear

Source– This post “Operation All Clear” is based on the article “Bhutan King’s India visit: Recalling Operation All Clear, which Bhutan launched against Assam’s insurgent groups” published in “The Indian Express” on 9 November 2023.

Why in the News?

Operation All Clear is in the news after Bhutan’s king three day visit to Assam.

Why Bhutanese King Assam’s visit became significant?

(1) This is the first visit of a Bhutanese monarch to the state.
(2)  It came after a tense period, in which the peaceful relationship between Bhutan and Assam became complicated in the 1990s, when insurgent groups from Assam began setting up camps and operating out of forests in southeast Bhutan.

What is Operation All Clear?

This was the Bhutan’s first Military operation in 140 years to flush out the militants from its territory. ‘Operation All Clear’ was launched by the Royal Bhutan Army on December 15, 2003.

What was its Background ?

(1) Challenges along Bhutan-India Border
-Assam shared 265.8 km with Bhutan
-In the 1990s Assam-based insurgent groups (United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the   National Democratic Front of Bodoland and the Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO))   established camps in southeastern Bhutan.
-It leads to complications in the peaceful relationship between Bhutan and India, as these groups posed a threat to Bhutan’s sovereignty and security.

(2) Bhutan’s Initial Approach: Initially, Bhutan refrained from engaging with the Indian insurgents on its territory, attempting diplomatic dialogues but avoiding coercive action due to its limited military capacity and lack of experience in handling such threats.

What factors led to the launch of Operation All Clear?

(1) Impact on National Security– The insurgents’ activities disrupted economic development, stalled crucial projects like the Dungsam Cement Project as well as the closure of education institutes, and jeopardized the safety of Bhutanese citizens, leading to tragic loss of innocent lives.

(2) Threat to Bilateral Relations– The presence of insurgents in Bhutan had implications on the excellent bilateral relations with India – its primary trade partner and key ally.

How the Operation implementation had been taken, and what is its outcome?

Military Action– On 15 December, the 6000-member Royal Bhutan Army launched simultaneous attacks on the camps of all three outfits with logistical and medical assistance from the Indian Army.

Outcomes– The operation resulted in the neutralization of several key leaders of the insurgent groups as well as 650 insurgents from the three groups had been either killed or captured.

UPSC Syllabus – International Relations