Operation Tupac

Operation Tupac is the alleged "codename" of an allegedly ongoing "military intelligence" contingency program run by the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, active since the 1980s. The program has a three-part action plan to provide covert support to separatists in Jammu and Kashmir. It was authorized and initiated by the order of the President of Pakistan Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq in 1988.[1][2][3]

The designation is derived from Tupac Amaru II, the 18th-century revolutionary who led the war of liberation in Peru against the Spanish rule.[4] The program is thought to be active as the ISI is currently engaged in covertly supporting Kashmiri separatists, Islamists and militants in their fight against the Indian authorities in Kashmir.[4]

The objectives of Operation Tupac were; a) to disintegrate India; b) to utilize the spy network to act as an instrument of sabotage; c) to exploit porous borders with Nepal and Bangladesh to set up bases and conduct operations.[1][5]

Though all the separatist militant groups received funding the Pro-Pakistani groups were reportedly favored.[1] Under this program, the ISI helped create 6 separatist militant groups in Kashmir including Lashkar-e-Taiba.[2][6] American Intelligence officials believe ISI continues to provide protection and share intelligence with Lashkar-e-Taiba.[6]

See also

• Pakistan and state-sponsored terrorism
• Bleed India with a Thousand Cuts
• Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir

References

1. John Pike (25 July 2002). "Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence". Federation of American Scientists. Archived from the original on 15 May 2008.
2. Juan Cole (12 December 2008), "Does Obama understand his biggest foreign-policy challenge?", Salon, archived from the original on 15 February 2009
3. Mukhtar Khan (9 January 2009). "India's Sikh Militants Forming Ties with Lashkar-e-Taiba and Pakistani Intelligence" (PDF). The Jamestown Foundation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 August 2012.
4. "Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 15 May 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2008.
5. Winchell, Sean P. (2003), "Pakistan's ISI: The Invisible Government", International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence, 16 (3): 374–388, doi:10.1080/713830449
6. Richard A. Oppel Jr.; Salman Masood (1 January 2009), "Pakistani Militants Admit Role in Siege, Official Says", The New York Times, archived from the original on 15 December 2018