As the Government mulls its strategy to take on Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack, it has directed two units of the Army’s elite Special Forces based in Jammu & Kashmir to remain on standby.
The one battalion each of 4 Para and 9 Para Special Forces trained for anti-terrorist operations have been asked to stand in operational readiness till further orders, sources said, pointing out that the Centre has not ruled out retaliatory action for the Pakistan-sponsored attack. Citing strategic reasons and operational constraints, the sources did not wish to reveal further at this point in time. The sources, however, said different action plans are ready to tackle eventualities arising out of the Uri attack.
The move comes amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan in the wake of yet another terror attack exported by Pakistan through the jehadi affiliate Jaish-e-Mohammad whose fidayeens killed 18 soldiers and injured about 30 Indian Army personnel in a pre-dawn attack at a Battalion headquarters at the Uri town near the line of Control (lOC).
The commandos of the Special Forces of the Indian Army are trained to carry out swift surgical strikes and hit strategic targets within an enemy territory. In the past, the Indian Army’s Special Forces have extensively participated in operations against the then terror group lTTE in Sri lanka. It had also conducted operations in Maldives and Myanmar.
One para battalion comprises 1,000 personnel and is equipped with a host of latest weaponry and gadgets, including high altitude parachutes, underwater scooters and state-of-the art communication sets among others.
Meanwhile, the agencies in Pakistan have cancelled the leave of all the three wings of the defence forces there besides the Pakistani Rangers, a paramilitary force that guards International Boundary with India, amid the deteriorating relationship between the two neighbours, sources said. The Pakistan Government has also banned over flight operations over the Northern Areas, dubbed as “disturbed area” by that country.