Indian Army to raise US-type Special Forces
Aditya Sinha, Hindustan Times, April 19

The successful US military campaign in Iraq has had an immediate impact on India. Army Chief N.C. Vij has ordered the raising of special operations forces, along the lines of the US Special Forces, for offensive operations in enemy territory.

Like their American counterpart, the Indian Special Forces will be small, flexible groups, under the direct command of the regional army commander, and will undertake specialised missions designed to have a political or strategic impact.

In December, the Cabinet Committee on Security had approved the raising of four battalions of special forces, but only for counter-insurgency work. After watching the US assault on Iraq, Vij has decided to raise four more battalions to work outside India.

For this Vij recently ordered the Directorate of Military Operations and the Army Training Command to study the recent US campaigns and work out a doctrinal underpinning for India’s Special Forces. They will work out a detailed blueprint on how India could best use such forces. A task force is on the job. [...]
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