Work

An ‘Elephant Trying to Chase a Rat’: Indian COIN in the Mizo Hills, 1967–1970

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Indian COIN operations during the Mizo civil war (1966–1986) are widely believed to have been effective, apparently paving the way for lasting peace. This article refutes this traditional stance. Indian COIN had serious limitations, struggling in an operational sense to conclusively defeat the MNF partly because of its broader inability to secure widespread local support. The peace that has defined the Mizo Hills since 1986 was forged despite Indian COIN in the early stages (1967–1970) of the conflict, as operations hindered the state's chances of military victory and created long-term resentment amongst the civilian population.

Source: War in History

DOI: 10.1177/09683445241296844

Author: Benjamin Holt

Institution: University of Leeds

Language: English

Topic: Military History and Strategy

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,450