Secrets Of COIN Success: Lessons From the Punjab Campaign

By Anant Mathur

As terrorism spreads its tentacles worldwide, and US fights insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a renewed interest in successful Counter Insurgency (COIN) campaigns. This paper is a case study of the Punjab COIN campaign in India to derive applicable lessons for current and future campaigns. The Indian government was victorious in tackling the Sikh insurgency in the state of Punjab. The Indian success was a result of a coherent anti-terrorism campaign after years of vacillation and muddled strategy. The Punjab anti-insurgency campaign stands out as the most recent triumphant COIN campaign in the world fought in the glare of media, human rights groups, fast-paced communication, AK-47s and IEDs. With the benefit of hindsight, two clear lessons emerge from the Punjab campaign. First, a strong, charismatic and innovative security forces leader is essential for the COIN campaign. Secondly, the government should utilize the security forces to create the environment for a political solution to the conflict.

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1249837472
• ISBN13: 9781249837473
• Release Date: October 2012
• Publisher: Biblioscholar
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 6.1" x 9.2"