The Indian military is set to conduct one of its largest mock war drills, involving 20,000 troops, close to the border with rival Pakistan, an official said on Monday.
The exercise, codenamed Shoorveer or Brave Warrior which will also involve 200 Russian-made tanks, is due to begin in the Indian desert state of Rajasthan next month, army spokesman Colonel Jagdeep Dahiya told AFP.
“The exercise will be one of the largest manoeuvres conducted so far,” he claimed, adding that the latest warplanes would be factored into the drills, which are scheduled to end in May.
In a separate statement, the military said tanks, frontline combat vehicles, artillery, helicopters, fighter jets, drones, air-defence weapons and military radars would be part of the games.
Another military source said the event would be held less than 200 kilometres (124 miles) from the highly militarised border with Pakistan, with which India has fought three wars since independence 1947.
Dahiya dismissed fears the exercise - to be conducted by an elite military corps raised only for cross-border assault – would crank up tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad. “We do inform Pakistan in advance whenever such large-scale exercises are conducted by us,” the colonel claimed.
New Delhi froze peace talks started in 2004 with Islamabad, following the Mumbai attacks in 2008 by gunmen India claims came from Pakistan. The slow-moving peace dialogues resumed early last year with cross visits by officials from both nations.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2012.
COMMENTS (5)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@G. Din: Dear Din Sahib I agree with you. But don't you think that we should encourage more good memories and dreams of a happy co existence in future.
@VINOD: "I wonder why even the elite English press in Pakistan all ways uses such terms as “with rival Pakistan” “Pakistan, with which India has fought three wars since independence 1947.” ” India the arch enemy”" When one's whole existence is validated, justified and defined by "NOT INDIA", this is the only way to reassure one that one is still alive! Pakistan knows very well it is no rival of India!
I wonder why even the elite English press in Pakistan all ways uses such terms as "with rival Pakistan" "Pakistan, with which India has fought three wars since independence 1947." " India the arch enemy" Sir is it not that such daily reminders are only fanning the distances. I do not find any such words in English press in India.
Hahaha Flexing what Muscle? Flex it Near Chinese Borders and You will see what they do to your Muscle. I personally think if any adventurism is done in future, Muscle must be Nuked.
That is called "Flexing the muscles"..