Special forces and surgical strikes

The para-commandos who constitute the Indian Special Forces have just concluded a surgical strike in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and made the nation proud of their prowess to strike the enemy with stealth, speed and surprise.

The surgical strike was conducted to avenge the death of 19 martyrs of the terrorist attack on the army’s Brigade Headquarters at Uri last month. The Special Forces infiltrated 3 km deep into PoK to hit multiple terrorist launch pads there and successfully exfiltrated from the area.

The Special Forces are a strategic weapon to be used at the right time to tilt the battle against an adversary. It is a force multiplier that can change the course of war by its judicious and bold employment behind the enemy lines.

The Indian Army Special Forces originated in 1965, when Maj Megh Singh from the Brigade of Guards raised the Meghdoot Force. It carried out several successful small-scale commando operations behind the enemy lines during the 1965 Indo-Pak war. After the war, the army’s leadership felt the need to raise a similar commando force to operate in the Rajasthan deserts. Hence the Meghdoot Force, which was christened as 9 Para Commando, was split into two and 10 Para Commando was raised and commanded by the late Lt Col N S Uthaiya.

Both these battalions excelled in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The 9 Para Commando conducted a daring raid on a medium gun battery at Mandhol where Brig (then captain) M M Ashok Cariappa was the second in command. The 10 Para Commando raided Chachro, a town 60 km inside enemy territory, under the dynamic command of the late Lt Col Bhawani Singh, the Maharaja of Jaipur.

The 10 Para Commando was the first battalion to be employed in Sri Lanka with effect from June 1987. By then, 9 and 10 Para Commando battalions had been reorganised and designated as Special Forces, and the First Battalion of the Parachute Regiment was reorganised to join the family of the Special Forces. While an infantry battalion has 1,000 men, a Special Forces battalion has around half that manpower strength.

These soldiers are trained in martial arts, sharp shooting, close quarter battle and specialise in communications, medical assistance, demolition, weapons and other skills necessary for covert combat.

Till now, the only Indian Special Forces operations conducted behind enemy lines was during Operation Jupiter. The para-commando battalions were tasked to evacuate the diplomatic personnel of the Indian High Commission in Colombo along with former president Jeyawardene whose life was under threat. Around that point in time, Indo-Sri Lankan relations had soured and the Sri Lanka government had requested the Indian Peace Keeping Force to leave the island nation before June 31, 1988. The employment of Special Forces will always yield dividends far beyond its size, both at the tactical and strategic level. Special Forces are raised to be employed beyond the tactical battle field. However, in the South Asian strategic environment characterised by a ‘No War, No Peace’ state of affairs, the employment of Special Forces for a surgical strike is possibly a great option for covert action between diplomacy and war.

Some strategic analysts are bound to opine that any infantry battalion could have undertaken the 3 km shallow penetration raid or surgical strike into enemy territory. It should be noted that infantry battalions could do so during an all out conventional war, but not before formal declaration of hostilities. The Special Forces soldiers are trained and mentally attuned to operate behind the enemy lines, which is proven beyond doubt.

IPKF, Kargil war

The Special Forces are also employed in the Kashmir Valley to tackle the externally fostered internal security threat from “non-state actors” operating from Pakistan. They were also into operations during the Kargil war in 1999. The Indian Navy has its Marine Commandos and the Indian Air Force (IAF) has the youngest Special Forces unit – Garuds – to combat threats to IAF assets. 

Now that the navy and air force also have their own Special Forces, it is time to institute a Special Forces Command. This Special Command would look into the security of our borders within and outside the country. It would also include the extended neighbourhood which comprises the Indian Ocean Rim and Southeast Asia. A Special Forces Command would have to operate directly under the overall force commander of that geographic region. It should never ever be asked to operate under local commanders of the tactical battle zone, which is the practice in the Indian military environment. Invariably, the commanders of fighting formations tend to use them as specialised infantry (foot soldiers) units for a little more difficult task where they feel the normal infantry would suffer more casualties or will not be able to maintain and ensure surprise against an enemy.

A Special Forces Command is an effective tool for decision makers to promote national security and foreign policy interests. Today, the Special Forces need the best men available in their service and support from the political and military leadership.

 Their welfare should be assured in the event of their death during action for they are a rare breed of men who are willing to sacrifice their lives for the nation. Without this, the Special Forces is not worth its existence. Given all this, their scope of success is well beyond imagination.

The recent Special Forces surgical strike is the second one conducted this year after the strike into Myanmar in response to an ambush against Indian soldiers in the Northeastern region. Hopefully, it is a forerunner to many more special operations in the future.

 (The writer, a retired Colonel, was former Commanding Officer, 10 Para Special Forces; he also served with the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka as well as during the Kargil operations)