1988: India 'saved' the Maldives from an imminent coup and the capture of the then President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom

The Rajiv Gandhi Govt was in power in New Delhi and all three forces of Indian military were deployed.

India's role was acknowledged globally. United States President Ronald Reagan expressed his appreciation for India's action, calling it "a valuable contribution to regional stability". 

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said-- "Thank God for India: President Gayoom's government has been saved". 

The Operation was also a model for the benign security role that India could play in the Indian Ocean. 

Indian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 planes like in the image above were used in Operation Cactus. Interesting part of the story is Malidivian president Qayoom initially did not seek India's help. It was only at the instance of the United Kingdom, New Delhi was requested for intervention. 

Within 16 hours of the SOS, India commenced the operation.

In 1980 and also in 1983 coup d'état attempts against Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's presidency were not considered serious, the third coup d'état attempt in November 1988 alarmed the international community.

About 80 armed PLOTE mercenaries (Tamil miliants from Sri Lanka) landed in the capital Malé before dawn aboard speedboats from a hijacked Sri Lankan freighter. Disguised as visitors, a similar number had already infiltrated Malé earlier. 

The mercenaries quickly gained control of the capital, including the major government buildings, airport, port, television and radio stations. The mercenaries then marched towards the Presidential Palace where President Gayoom was residing with his family. But before they reached the Presidential Palace, President Gayoom was escorted by Maldivian National Security Advisor to the Defense Minister's home. 

The Defense Minister then escorted the President to a safe house. Meanwhile, the mercenaries had seized the Presidential Palace and managed to take the Maldivian Education Minister as hostage. 

President Gayoom requested military intervention from Sri Lanka and Pakistan, but both denied any help, citing a lack of military capabilities. 

The president then requested Singapore's intervention, but Singapore declined, citing the same reasons. 

Qayoom even contacted the United States, but was told that it would take US forces 2–3 days to reach the Maldives from their nearest military base in Diego Garcia, 1000 km away. 

The president then contacted the United Kingdom, which advised them to seek assistance from India. 

Following this, President Gayoom contacted the Indian government for assistance. 

Rajiv Gandhi 

At later stage it was claimed that initially even Rajiv Gandhi was reluctant to intervene.

The soldiers were parachuted on to Hululu island in Maldives at a time when parachutes were not that safe. Under such trying circumstances, it was the the advice and the confidence of the military leadership enabled the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to give a go-ahead for the operation.

K C Pant was Defence Minister then 

The Operation Cactus was later described as the saga of men determined to achieve ends despite all odds.

The 1988 Maldives coup d'état attempt was by a group of Maldivians led by businessman Abdullah Luthufi and assisted by armed mercenaries of a Tamil secessionist organisation from Sri Lanka, the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), to overthrow the government in the island republic of Maldives. 

It may be mentioned that the Operation Cactus started on the night of November 3, 1988, when Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft of the Indian Air Force airlifted the elements of the 50th Independent Parachute Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Farukh Bulsara, the 6th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment and the 17th Parachute Field Regiment from Agra Air Force Station and flew them non-stop over 2,000 kilometres to land them over the Malé International Airport on Hulhule Island. 

Notably, the Indian Army paratroopers arrived on Hulhule in nine hours after the appeal from President Gayoom.

The Indian paratroopers immediately secured the airfield, crossed over to Malé using commandeered boats and rescued President Gayoom. The paratroopers restored control of the capital to President Gayoom's government within hours. Some of the mercenaries fled toward Sri Lanka in a hijacked freighter. 

The successful operation was later called a defining moment in the India-Maldives strategic relationship.