Why a Country Called America but Only India Came

India’s 1988 Intervention in the Maldives

The video recounts India’s military intervention in the Maldives after about 80 mercenaries arrived by sea and attacked the National Security Service headquarters in Malé. President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was moved to a safe location while the country’s limited security forces came under pressure.

According to the video, several countries—including Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Singapore, the United States, and Britain—did not send troops in response to Gayoom’s calls for help.

Indian Deployment

India agreed to intervene after Gayoom’s appeal. With limited information about the attackers and the airport’s security, the 50th Parachute Brigade prepared to fly from Agra to Hulhulé, the island airport near Malé. Two Indian Air Force transport aircraft carried roughly 400 soldiers.

After briefly contacting the control tower, the aircraft landed. The airfield was not occupied by the mercenaries. Indian troops secured it and then crossed by boat to Malé. As the paratroopers approached, the attackers fled. The president was found alive in his safe house.

Interception at Sea

Some mercenaries escaped aboard the merchant ship Progress Light, taking hostages, including a government minister. Indian Navy frigates Godavari and Betwa intercepted the vessel. After warning and disabling fire, the ship stopped and the armed men surrendered.

The video notes that accounts differ about what happened aboard the ship and how many hostages survived.

Commentary

The video presents the intervention as a rapid response that helped defeat the coup attempt and return control of the country to the Maldivians.

Presenters and Contributors

No individual presenter is identified; the video is narrated under the Terminal Intelligence Bureau name. People mentioned include:

• President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
• Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi
• Brigadier Farooq Bulsara
• Group Captain Anand Bewoor
• Colonel Subhash Joshi
• Captain Gopalachari