India:1 0f 5 w/div.strength special forces

[Guest guest]

India to send elite commandos to Israel for training

"...will make India, only the fifth

country in the world, to have division strength special forces after

US, Russia, China and UK."

New Delhi, Feb 3, IRNA -- The Indian government has given a go-

ahead

to raising of four more battalions of Special Forces, who would be

trained in Israel for specialized counter-insurgency strikes, local

press reported on Monday.

The proposal for raising these new elite commando forces,

specially in "irregular warfare", has been cleared by India's Cabinet

Committee on Security (CCS) and additional funds have been allocated

for it, said highly-placed Indian army officials.

The officers and men from these newly-raised battalions would be

sent to Israel for special anti-insurgency warfare training, the

officials said.

A high-level defense ministry delegation is scheduled to visit

Israel next week as part of the moves to clear the decks for training

of the special forces.

India and Israel recently signed a 30-million dollar agreement to

arm the special forces with Israeli Tavros Light weapons systems. The

system is said to be the most advanced in contemporary warfare.

India already has a Brigade Strength Special Forces comprising,

our battalions and para-commandos, specializing in anti-hijacking and

hostage crises as well as desert and jungle terrain operations,

among others.

The Indian army brass was tightlipped about the role of the

newly-raised special forces, which will make India, only the fifth

country in the world, to have division strength special forces after

US, Russia, China and UK.

Sources said the newly-raised forces specially trained in high

risk run and hit tactics will be assigned to target militants staging

points near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and seek and

destroy mercenary ammunition dumps near the border and in the

hinterland in Jammu and Kashmir.

BH/RR

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