DTN News: India Details Role of Special Forces

DTN News: India Details Role of Special Forces (NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI, India - October 1, 2008: India's Special Forces doctrine, released Sept. 30, details the dominant role special forces units are expected to play for all three services in future wars. Adm. Sureesh Mehta, chairman, Chief of Staff Committee, and chief of the Naval Staff, formally released the "Joint Doctrine for Special Forces Operations" at a function here."All future wars or conflicts will demand the Special Forces to play an increasingly dominant role at all levels of war, be it strategic, operational or tactical. Therefore, the bringing out of this Special Forces doctrine has been most timely and apt," said the official release of the Indian Defence Ministry. India's special forces will be trained to fight behind enemy lines and be instrumental in the Rapid Action Force formation enabling the Navy to fight littoral warfare. The Indian Rapid Action forces, some of whom are being trained by Israel at unknown locations, will be armed with advanced weaponry and integrated through C4I systems. "The doctrine emphasizes the need for providing timely, wholesome and accurate intelligence, fire support by attack helicopters, naval gunfire, artillery, precision-guided munitions and rockets for the successful conduct of special operations," the Defence Ministry release said. "The doctrine also highlights the importance of various aspects of joint training to achieve greater cohesion and the understanding necessary for conducting joint special operations."