Modelled on Israeli Shaldag,
Garuds earn combat experience in Kashmir
By Ajai Shukla
Business Standard, 11th Oct 17
In January 2016, while defending the
Pathankot air base in Punjab, Corporal Gursewak Singh became the first Garud –
the Indian Air Force (IAF) commando force – to fall to terrorist bullets.
On Wednesday morning, two more IAF
commandos – Sergeant Milind Kishor and Corporal Nilesh Kumar Nayan – became the
first Garud fatalities in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir
(J&K).
Kishor and Nayan died in action in Hajin
village, near Bandipura in North Kashmir. They were operating with an army
unit, 13 Rashtriya Rifles, when three armed militants opened fire at them.
Incident accounts indicate the Garuds quickly killed two militants and were
outflanking the third when he fired, catching them in the open.
Like the navy’s Special Forces – dubbed
Marcos, or Marine Commandos – the Garud force has been operating in J&K
since 2005. Over the years, they have had significant successes, including
killing two Hizbul Mujahideen district commanders in Kupwara.
“We prefer to remain quiet about our
operations in Kashmir and elsewhere”, says a Garud officer when asked for
details.
The Garud force was conceived in September
2004, when air force chief, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy, on a visit to
Israel, was impressed by their air force Special Forces Unit 5101 – also called
Shaldag, or Kingfisher in Hebrew. On his return to India, Krishnaswamy ordered
the establishment of a similar unit. It was named Garud, after a heavenly bird
in Hindu and Buddhist mythology.
The Garud force conducts “aviation special
operations”, including combat search and rescue (retrieving IAF pilots shot
down or bailed out in enemy territory), “laser designation” of strategic enemy
targets for smart bombs dropped from IAF strike aircraft, assessing the damage
done to enemy targets after IAF air strikes, and the physical destruction of enemy
air defence radars and guns.
For these dangerous tasks, the Garuds must
infiltrate into enemy territory by air, sea or land. Certain helicopter units
are affiliated to the Garuds for airborne infiltration.
While the force today numbers over 1,500 persons,
Garuds typically operate in small tightknit “squads” of 14 commandoes. These
are grouped into “flights” of 60-70 men.
All Garuds are volunteers, with some being
directly recruited into the force and others opting to sidestep into the Garuds
from other air force branches. It is rare to find pilots opting for the Garuds,
since pilots link their futures with maximising hours in the cockpit.
The Garuds are equipped with specially
procured weaponry, like the Israeli Tavor rifle. Reports from Parliament’s
Standing Committee on Defence indicate a range of advanced counter-terrorist
equipment is being procured for the Garud force, including thermal night vision
binoculars, special silenced carbines with holographic and night sights. Lighly
armoured strike vehicles are also being procured.
The Garud force is headquartered in
Chandinagar, near Baghpat, where training is carried out. In addition, Garuds
are given specialist training by the navy’s Marcos, and army para-commandoes.
In a message tweeted by Northern Command
today, the army paid its respects to the two Garuds: “[Army Commander Northern
Command] and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of our martyrs [and] offer
our deepest condolences to the families.”
Nothing secret. You are trying to sensationalist a simple fact that only army has units in combat operations and all other SF units use the opportunity to get combat experience in valley or NE for their troops by imbeding with the units at sharp edge.
ReplyDeleteLoss of lives of young men who sacrifice their lives for the nation is especially sad. They had so much more to offer had their lives not been cut short so abruptly! One would also like the media to report the names of the deceased warriors correctly. The Sergeant's name, from available news paper reports was apparently Milind Kishore Khairnar, which can be independently verified.
ReplyDeleteOne would also seriously dispute the contention that the Garuds are equipped with specially procured weaponry, specifically the Tavors. One has seen the security detail assigned to a high profile industrialist in Mumbai, wielding these weapons!
One's point is - Since the MARCOS, Garuds, IA Paras are special forces, they must be given top of the line equipment which is at par with those available with the best militaries of the world. At the moment, this bench marking is missing.
The issue at hand apart, the very existence of Garuds brings into focus the kind of empire building the armed forces should avoid. It is one thing to have commandoes specifically trained for air centric operations (including ground support) and quite another to have that within the air force. It is high time we had a Marine Corps but that would have to be part of a radical reorganisation to theatre commands and host of other higher defence reforms. That would also mean the Army would have to stop fantasising about offensive air assets.
ReplyDeleteIt is a pity that this government with a 330 MP majority in the Lok Sabha is as feckless as the last one in seriously thinking through our defense posture. As much as I detest Stephen Cohen's mollycoddling of Pakistan and its army, his conclusions in "Arming without Aiming" are indeed prophetic. The only way this will perhaps change is introduction of compulsory draft for kith & kin of politicians and babus.
occasion demands more sensitivity rather trying to give gyan!! Major threats lie over land borders then why marine Corp!! won't theatre commands create new empires!! So wash your dirty linen in your own home !! And as of now respect the fallen soldiers be it from army navy or Air FORCE!!
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