Indian Army flexes muscles near Pak border

Ahead of Director-General of Military Operations-level talks next week, an elite Strike Corps of the Indian Army carried out wargames near the India-Pakistan border involving over 15,000 troops and over 100 tanks.

15,000 troops of the 36 RAPID (Reorganised Army Plains Division) participated in 'Shahbaaz

Ajay' exercise which included over 100 armoured-class vehicles among other advanced artillery and air defence equipment in western sector.

"Strike Corps validated new concepts and refined existing battle procedures... A high degree of integration was achieved with the IAF while undertaking specialised operations which included an air borne assault and a special helicopter borne operation," Defence Spokesperson Colonel S D Goswami said.

The 36 RAPID Division is part of the elite 21 Strike Corps. A Para (Special Forces) battalion under the Bhopal-based strike formation also took part in the exercise.

Lt Gen Amit Sharma, the Strike Corps Commander, reviewed the tactical drills and manoeuvres of the Division. The culmination phase of the exercise was witnessed by Southern Army Commander Lt Gen Ashok Singh.

The Army in winter sends its strike formations to test and conceptualise their war fighting procedures and evolve them further.

India and Pakistan are scheduled to hold DGMO-level talks on December 24 at the Pakistan side of the Wagah border where they are expected to discuss ways of ensuring peace along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.