The Indian Peace-Keeping Force in Sri Lanka, 1987-90. A Case Study in Operations Other Than War.

This monograph analyzes the Indian experience of Operations Other Than War OOTW in Sri Lanka, a large, tropical island off the southern tip of India. The Indian Peace-Keeping Force IPKF, a reinforced division, deployed to monitor a cease-fire between the majority Sinhalese government and the Tamil guerrillas ,and to supervise the turn-in of weapons by the various Tamil militant groups. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam LTTE, was the most fanatical of the guerrilla organizations. The IPKF transitioned to peace enforcement operations and grew to several divisions and infantry brigades. The paper provides background on the ethnic and religious turmoil which has plagued Sri Lanka for decades. It explains Indias geopolitical objectives as regional power broker which prompted the ratification of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord on 29 July 1987. This agreement gave the IPKF its mandate. The text traces the IPKF through three significantly different missions as the Accord broke down. Maps place the discussion context, and an Appendix provides a tentative Order Of Battle for the IPKF. The monograph emphasizes the tactical lessons learned of the IPKF and their ramifications for future American OOTW.