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| Golden Temple attack: UK advised India but impact 'limited' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| British military advice was given to India ahead of the 1984 deadly attack on a Sikh temple but it had only a "limited impact", MPs have been told. | |
| Foreign Secretary William Hague was delivering the findings of a review into claims an SAS officer helped Delhi plan the raid which killed hundreds. | Foreign Secretary William Hague was delivering the findings of a review into claims an SAS officer helped Delhi plan the raid which killed hundreds. |
| The storming of the Golden Temple in the city of Amritsar was intended to flush out Sikh separatists. | |
| Mr Hague said UK assistance was "purely advisory" and given months beforehand. | Mr Hague said UK assistance was "purely advisory" and given months beforehand. |
| The inquiry was launched last month after declassified documents suggested Margaret Thatcher's government was involved in planning the raid, called Operation Blue Star. | |
| The Indian government said about 400 people were killed in the attack, including 87 soldiers. Sikh groups say many hundreds more died. | The Indian government said about 400 people were killed in the attack, including 87 soldiers. Sikh groups say many hundreds more died. |
| In the 30 years since, Sikhs say they have been seeking justice for lost family members. | In the 30 years since, Sikhs say they have been seeking justice for lost family members. |
| Last resort | |
| Delivering his statement, Mr Hague set out the UK's involvement in planning for the raid. | Delivering his statement, Mr Hague set out the UK's involvement in planning for the raid. |
| He told the Commons that the British government had received an urgent request for help from Indian authorities who wanted to regain control of the temple from Sikh militants. | He told the Commons that the British government had received an urgent request for help from Indian authorities who wanted to regain control of the temple from Sikh militants. |
| In response, a British military adviser was sent to India in February 1984, and he recommended any attack should be a last resort, MPs heard. | |
| The adviser suggested using an element of surprise and helicopters to try to keep casualty numbers low, features which were not part of the final operation, Mr Hague said. | |
| No equipment or training were offered, Mr Hague said, and the attack took place three months later in a situation very different from that in which the advice was offered. | No equipment or training were offered, Mr Hague said, and the attack took place three months later in a situation very different from that in which the advice was offered. |
| The investigation, carried out by Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood, involved searching 200 files and 23,000 documents. | |
| In conclusion, Mr Hague said: "The cabinet secretary's report finds that the nature of the UK's assistance was purely advisory, limited and provided to the Indian government at an early stage; that it had limited impact on the tragic events that unfolded at the temple three months later; that there was no link between the provision of this advice and defence sales and there is no record of the (British) government receiving advance notice of the operation." |