Foreign Operations & Deployments

Aditya G · Post by **Aditya G** » 14 Sep 2013 03:04

X-Post

Vipul wrote:Globemasters deployed for overseas missions.

The 'SkyLords' have already begun to spread their wings. India has quietly started deploying its latest aircraft, the gigantic C-17 Globemaster-III, on "special overseas airlift missions" in tune with its geostrategic objectives.

Defence ministry sources on Monday said while one C-17 made a trip to energy-rich Tajikistan in August, another is slated to fly all the way to Rwanda later this month. "The Tajik flight carried special equipment, including instrument landing aids. The one to Rwanda will carry heavy equipment to support our troops deployed in the UN stabilization mission in war-ravaged Congo," said a source.

This comes even as the C-17s are being flown to places like Port Blair, Leh and Thoise within the country on different missions. Impressed with the "sheer ruggedness" of the four-engine C-17s, dubbed "game-changers" by Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne, IAF has finalised plans to acquire six more Globemasters in the 13th Plan (2017-2022) period.

Three of the first 10 C-17 aircraft ordered for $4.1 billion from the US were "formally" inducted into the 81 Squadron, nicknamed the 'SkyLords', at the Hindon airbase last week. While another two will touch down by November, the other five will come by end-2014. Designed to swiftly airlift a 70-tonne cargo across 4,200 km, the C-17s can even land at makeshift airstrips in forward areas.

The overseas missions are being seen as "crucial" to Indian interests abroad. India has forged a "deep strategic partnership" with Tajikistan, which shares its borders with Afghanistan, China, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. In March-April, India had also used its C-130J 'Super Hercules' aircraft to airlift a military hospital with doctors, paramedics and equipment to Tajikistan.

Moreover, the Indian military presence at the Ayni airbase, around 15 km from Dushanbe, helps New Delhi keep some tabs on its strategic interests in Central Asia as well as terrorism-infested Af-Pak region.

The C-17 flight to Rwanda, in turn, will be "critical" in supporting the 4,000 Indian troops deployed in Congo. "The C-17s have tremendously boosted India's capabilities for strategic operations overseas. It would have required three to four trips by our older IL-76 aircraft to carry the heavy load to Rwanda, which is the gateway to Congo. The C-17 will do in a single non-stop flight," said the source.

Aditya G · Post by **Aditya G** » 11 Dec 2013 22:46

For records ...

Kartik wrote:Iranian warships visit Mumbai

...Meanwhile, New Delhi has taken up stalled work on the development of Iran’s Chabahar port, which was halted after the UN imposed sanctions on Iran. India proposes to link the Chabahar port to Afghanistan, thus creating a trade link to Central Asia.

An official with the Indian Foreign Ministry said Chabahar is of utmost strategic interest to India. The port is just 72 kilometers west of Pakistan’s Gwadar port, which is being built by China.

India and Iran signed a historic strategic agreement in January 2003 under which India agreed to give hardware, training and maintenance facilities to Iranian forces in lieu of getting surety of Iranian space and facilities in the event of a war with Pakistan. The duration of the pact is not known.

http://indrus.in/blogs/2013/12/10/flank ... 31495.html

...

In 2008 India accepted Malaysia’s request to train the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) personnel on the operation and maintenance of its Su-30 MKM fighters. “The initial training for the RMAF personnel was conducted in India by HAL and IAF,” says the website of the Indian diplomatic mission in Kuala Lumpur.

“Subsequently, a composite team of flying and technical training instructors was deployed at Gong Kedah Base as part of Indian Air Force Training Team (IAFTT) for two and a half years to impart the training. The training successfully concluded in Sep 2010. The IAFTT team personnel were felicitated in a special ceremony prior to their departure by General Dato Sri Rodzali bin Daud, Chief of the RMAF.

...

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 20 Dec 2013 11:29

x-post

VinodTK wrote:Attackers storm UN base in S. Sudan, kill 3 Indian peacekeepers
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Three Indian peacekeepers were "targeted and killed" in the assault on Akobo, said India's UN ambassador Asoke Mukerji. A minute's silence for the soldiers was held at a UN meeting on peacekeeping in New York.

Forty other Indian peacekeepers and six UN police advisors were moved to safety at a nearby South Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) camp, Haq said.
:
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they were defending a group of south sudanese people who had taken refuge in the compound seeking protection from rebels.

Eric Leiderman · Post by **Eric Leiderman** » 20 Dec 2013 11:36

Rest in peace brave souls

http://www.theprovince.com/news/South+S ... story.html

Aditya G · Post by **Aditya G** » 23 May 2014 13:29

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-new ... 21993.aspx

...

Three gunmen were killed, one by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and two by Afghan police, out of the four attackers who struck the consulate which houses two buildings, Press Trust of India cited Sinha as saying.

In a pre-dawn assault, the gunmen attacked the building which houses the residence of consulate general, Sinha said, adding that there were nine Indians in the mission apart from local Afghans.

One attacker was killed while climbing the wall to enter the premises of the consulate, he added.

The gunmen had opened fire on the consulate from a nearby home, provincial police chief Abdul Sami Qatra told AP.

...

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/india ... dor-529414

ashish raval · Post by **ashish raval** » 23 May 2014 13:53

We need to construct IMA style military academy / War College in Afghanistan to make sure Afghanistan keeps on producing brilliant officers after America has left. We also need to send few helo's and tanks to prop up Afghan Army (Although I believe there will be large number of American stuff left when they leave). Indian Govt. should pay compensation to both Indian and Afghan martyrs to support Afghan people in their fight too. I want free Balochistan... Keep pukis on boil, unlimited budget to RAW all the way. Do whatever you want, Break Pakistan

Sid · Post by **Sid** » 23 May 2014 20:03

Its a message to new Indian Gov, that despite of all puppi jhappi that might happen during visit by Nawaz there are interests that they a not willing to let go.

They also showed their depth in Afgan by attacking Herat, where Talibunny influence is low.

Soon they will do things that will test new Gov's resolve. Hope Modi can talk the talk and walk the walk.

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 23 May 2014 21:50

The Pakistanis have sent their message loud and clear. Modi will have to hit back. CIT-X and CIT-J have to be reactivated.

tushar_m · Post by **tushar_m** » 24 May 2014 09:05

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 24 May 2014 14:10

RoyG wrote:The Pakistanis have sent their message loud and clear. Modi will have to hit back. CIT-X and CIT-J have to be reactivated.

What are CIT-X and CIT-J?

Nikhil T · Post by **Nikhil T** » 24 May 2014 15:10

Gagan wrote:
RoyG wrote:The Pakistanis have sent their message loud and clear. Modi will have to hit back. CIT-X and CIT-J have to be reactivated.
What are CIT-X and CIT-J?

Both are/were RAW's counter intelligence operations teams. From wiki

In the mid-1980s, RAW set up two covert groups, Counterintelligence Team-X(CIT-X) and Counterintelligence Team-J(CIT-J), the first directed at Pakistan[73] and the second at Khalistani groups.

Aditya G · Post by **Aditya G** » 24 May 2014 23:00

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/409 ... fghan.html

...

The ITBP, which renders perimeter security and access control duties at Indian installations besides being also trained to undertake special rescue and VIP security duties, had deployed an additional 79 commandos in Afghanistan in the past six months in addition to the 219 commandos already deployed there. Twenty-three personnel were deployed at the Herat facility.

The force had deployed more personnel after analysing the security situation in the country and the need for enhancing security at Indian installations.

A senior security official said a decision to increase the deployment was taken last year following the August 3 suicide bomb attack near the main consulate complex in Jalalabad, which killed 12 civilians. Sources said there was no weakness in the intelligence-sharing mechanism.

A security analysis done in the recent past showed that the Indian assets in Afghanistan were facing threats from not only al- Qaeda and the Pakistan-based Haqqani network, but also from smaller militant groups based in Pakistan.

...

vasu raya · Post by **vasu raya** » 25 May 2014 07:37

we should operate drones alongside Af-pak border, and every time an attack happens traced to TSP we should increase military supplies to Afghanistan. Lets revisit Karzai's wishlist.

Rustom and Artillery guns have to be ready to meet these goals even at 20%. The other key one would be the use of switch blade kind of Infantry level UAVs.

Aditya G · Post by **Aditya G** » 20 Jun 2014 23:17

http://m.timesofindia.com/india/India-h ... 783640.cms

IAF, in particular, now operates aircraft like the C-17 Globemaster-III and the C-130J Super Hercules, which are capable of landing on short, rudimentary airstrips and are geared for "out of area contingencies" due to their rugged nature.

In August-September last year, for instance, the Indian C-17s made "non-stop flights" to deliver "special cargo" to Tajikistan in central Asia and Rwanda in central Africa. "Both the strategic airlift C-17s and the C-130Js, which are configured for special operations, can easily fly to Iraq in single-hops," said an official. While the IAF is keeping the aircraft on standby at the Hindon airbase on the outskirts of Delhi, there has been no "tasking" for them from the government till now.

Even the aircraft fleet of the Aviation Research Centre (ARC) of external intelligence agency RAW has similar capabilities. The ARC, in fact, had flown its aircraft to Africa for an emergency evacuation mission around three years ago, said sources.

The evacuation of Indian sailors, along with a few Pakistani colleagues, from Somalia was carried out after ransom was probably paid. "We can carry out such an evacuation on a few hours notice," said a source.

The intelligence agency has undertaken such operations around the world over the years. When underworld don Abu Salem was to be brought to India, RAW flew an aircraft without landing in European airports for fear of legal trouble on alleged human rights violations.

Indian warships, too, can be dispatched for such an operation if the stranded people are brought to an Iraqi harbour. Navy officers pointed out that during Operation Sukoon, Indian naval ships had evacuated a few thousand people from Lebanon, including Indians, Sri Lankans and Nepalese when conflict broke out between Israel and Hezbollah.

Aditya G · Post by **Aditya G** » 29 Jun 2014 21:38

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 415799.cms

NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy has put two warships on standby for possible evacuation of Indians stranded in strife-torn Iraq. Navy sources said that INS Mysore, a powerful Delhi class destroyer, reached the Persian Gulf on Saturday. "We are awaiting orders," naval sources said.

Another warship, INS Tarkash, is in the Gulf of Aden. Though INS Tarkash is there for antipiracy operations, it is ready to take on any new task, sources said.

The decision to send INS Mysore was taken at a meeting of the crisis management group on Friday. The meeting was attended by, among others, the three service chiefs.

At the meeting, Air India is also believed to have been asked to be ready for evacuation operations if necessary.

...

VishalJ · Post by **VishalJ** » 05 Jul 2014 09:45

So i was kept updated by people in the know about Air India 77L VT-ALF "Jharkhand" dep DEL as AI 161 for Erbil for the evac of Indians in Iraq.

Was tracking the a/c through my FR24 app, the a/c was denied landing by the Iraqis & diverted to Iran, after a while when i checked at 0137 IST the a/c was downwind into EBL:

i checked again some time later on seeing a friends tweet about AI 161 boarding, so at 0430 IST the a/c was into positive climb & outbound EBL✈BOM✈COK:

Aditya G · Post by **Aditya G** » 05 Jul 2014 14:28

Why send a civvie aircraft into the conflict zone? Gotta hand it to the air india pilots for coming forward!

Mukesh.Kumar · Post by **Mukesh.Kumar** » 06 Jul 2014 12:53

Anyone heard anything on this?

Indian Jawans in rescue of nurses from Iraq

pushkar.bhat · Post by **pushkar.bhat** » 06 Jul 2014 19:40

Mukesh.Kumar wrote:Anyone heard anything on this?

Indian Jawans in rescue of nurses from Iraq

I just hope that its not true and we distance ourselves from it even if true.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 06 Jul 2014 23:47

If true it's an amazing achievement. Why this shivering, pushkar Ji?

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 07 Jul 2014 00:01

^^^Well, the way I see this, there could well be 'boots on ground' before and during the negotiation, movement, release and handover. These would be there to assess the situation, give professional advise on how best to go about the whole affair and provide some bit of protection cum muscle. Quite natural to expect this given the fluid nature of situation on ground. But all would be very low key and discreet. Not some Eagle Claw type of raid or anything. This is why one needs a Spec-Ops Command - an operation of this nature is right down the alley of SF units.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 07 Jul 2014 04:17

Talking of discrete - that content is no there any longer.

pushkar.bhat · Post by **pushkar.bhat** » 07 Jul 2014 08:18

Karan M wrote:If true it's an amazing achievement. Why this shivering, pushkar Ji?

As rohit mentioned we need not be vocal about every thing. I don't know why this type of news needs to be published in the first place.

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 03 Sep 2014 21:32

If this story is true thenI am not comfortable with troops trusting these Al Jubra or ISIS and handing over weapons?

who would take responsibility if they are beheaded like the poor Syrians and iraqis

top Indian Lt Gen commanding the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) -- that is currently engaged in a confrontation with the Al Nusra rebel group of Syria -- at Golan Heights, has broken his silence on major a controversy that erupted this week after the Philippine military sough a formal investigation against him for allegedly endangering the safety of its peacekeeping troops.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/un-f ... 80704.html

anyway time to ping some other peacekeepers and find out whether this story is true
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/un-f ... 80704.html

vaibhav.n · Post by **vaibhav.n** » 04 Sep 2014 11:03

Surya Sir,

I dont know about the current situation. Had a cousin up there till last year as Liason with the Japs. Though the area is held by Assad Militias and SAA, the rebels have consolidated in a couple of positions. The rebels there are of the Al-Nusra kind who have sworn loyalty to the ISIS also gives people jitters. The IDF and UNDOF prefers the more affable SAA chaps which is resented by the rebels. There are a whole string of isolated OP Dets to man the boundary.

I was told the problem is a large part of the area is still mined, which restricts movement for the rebels against the SAA to major roadheads. The area also has a fair number of Alawite and Druze villages to which Assad belongs so the SAA enjoy local support as well. The SAA guys go along pretty well with the Indian Troops and on multiple occasions opened up contact with the Al-Nusra chaps in retaliation when they fired upon Indian Posts.

rkhanna · Post by **rkhanna** » 04 Sep 2014 12:38

Apparently the Filipinos now want to open up a UN Investigation into the Indian CO's conduct.

Mihir · Post by **Mihir** » 04 Sep 2014 22:33

UN body backs Indian officer in stand-off with Philippines

Backing the Indian official, the UN mission in a statement said, “Philippines bypassed the chain of command and the permanent representative of Philippines in UN , New York, COAS, Philippines and the erstwhile Force Commander of UNDOF, Maj General (Retired) Natalio Ecarma III (presently deputy minister in Philippines), adversely interfered in the decision making mechanics of UNDOF, jeopardising the safety of own and Fijian troops.”

“The field commander was in constant touch with the Position commanders directly and was appreciating their brave stand and exhorted them to stay calm and not aggravate the situation as efforts were ongoing for their safe passage.It may be recalled that on four occasions in the past the FC had successfully handled similar situations,” it said.

According to the note, the COS of the mission — the Filipino officer who resigned — took orders from “Manila and acted with myopic focus only on the contingent, compromising the mission planning to ensure safety of all peacekeepers irrespective of contingents”.

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 04 Sep 2014 22:41

this bothers me especially after all the killings of surrendered Iraqis and syrian soldiers

am waiting info from other Indian UN soldiers and police - was it surrender weapons or stand down?

If surrender weapons I have a problem

would anyone trust the ISIS or Al nusra?

What would have happened if the filipinos and Fijians were beheaded if they followed such orders?

We still dont know what can happen to the Fijians

I would not want to surrender my weapons - maybe not fire back but no effing way am I going to take a chance with ISIS types

You are not going to see other troops obey such orders.

Mihir · Post by **Mihir** » 04 Sep 2014 23:32

We don't know what the exact order was. We only know, from the UN statement, that Lt. Gen. Singha

had successfully handled similar situations in the past.

Also, I'm not sure what the Filipino officer was thinking, taking orders from outside the chain of command. It shows a striking lack of professionalism and discipline.

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 05 Sep 2014 02:33

mihir

agreed - we don't know what the order was - trying to find out-

Aditya G · Post by **Aditya G** » 06 Mar 2015 10:19

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/453 ... pters.html

UN seeks return of IAF helicopters
Kalyan Ray New Delhi, Jan 13, 2015, DHNS:

The United Nations has sought return of Indian Air Force helicopters to the peace keeping mission in Congo, almost three years after New Delhi withdrew the them due to domestic requirements.
The United Nations has sought return of Indian Air Force helicopters to the peace keeping mission in Congo, almost three years after New Delhi withdrew the them due to domestic requirements.

The issue was discussed between UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in the capital on Monday.

“The Secretary General is keen to have an air component in Congo, which is a large country. India previously provided helicopters. It was discussed between Moon and Swaraj as the UN acutely felt the need,” External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.

Between 2010-11, the government was compelled to call back all IAF helicopters from UN peacekeeping mission in Congo and South Sudan and press them into domestic operations. Subsequently, Ukraine provided helicopters for tactical air support.

As many as 17 Mi-17 medium lift helicopter, eight Mi-35 and Mi-25 attack choppers were operating in Congo and Sudan.

While the Mi-17s augmented the transport fleet and supplementing the helicopters deployed in the anti-Naxal operations in central India, the attack helicopters were used to provide support to the Army deployed in Rajasthan deserts.

The Mi-35s went to Suratgarh base. India is one of the world’s biggest contributor to the UN operations providing personnel for 10 out of 16 missions.

In April 2013, then defence minister A K Antony informed Parliament that more than 7,000 Indian peacekeepers were deployed under the UN flag with maximum number of troops being deployed in Congo and South Sudan.

“Our resources have been stretched to the limit, particularly the helicopter fleet. For six to seven years, they have been deployed in the UN peacekeeping missions. They have taken a huge amount of workload over the years,” stated then IAF Vice Chief N A K Browne, who went on to become the Chief of the Air Staff.

India also asked for more say in commanding the operations as Indian lives are involved.

When our helicopters were recalled, there was a hue & cry ongoing regarding air support for naxal missions. Then there was the Army crying our for CAS for armour forces. The pull out was partially addressed by IA cheetah deployment.

I believe the "quantity" aspect of air support in counter naxal ops has been addressed, CRPF cribbing not withstanding. Nevertheless, the Hind fleet should also be deployed in naxal theatre for the remainder of their life. They can be equipped with only chin gun in this role. High time for the commies to face their music

Aditya G · Post by **Aditya G** » 06 Mar 2015 10:56

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/air-cras ... elp-744566

NEW DELHI: India has rushed a team of Air Force officials along with a recovery kit by a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to Kathmandu, to help in operations to clear the runway after a Turkish plane skidded off the runway on Wednesday.

The C-130J ferried 11 personnel of Air India and the recovery kit to Kathmandu airport where the usable runway length has been reduced to only about 5000 ft, making it impossible for any commercial aircraft to land.

The C-130J was chosen as it has the capability to land on restricted surfaces, IAF officials said.

The IAF personnel will help remove the aircraft from the runway using the recovery kit.

The IAF received the the request for assistance at about 1900 hrs on March 4. The Operations Staff at Air HQ and at the Hindan-based C-130J Unit swung into action and planning continued till late in the night.

An Accident Recovery Kit was immediately brought in from Mumbai by an Air India aircraft. By The customs and immigration formalities of these personnel was organized by the Air Force authorities at Palam.

The C-130J left for Kathmandu at 1107 hrs today after finishing off all customs and immigration formalities with 7.5 tone of load and 11 technical crew from Air India, an official statement said.Story First Published: March 05, 2015 19:55 IST

Image:

URL: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_UTss8VAAA6yfj.jpg

Hitesh · Post by **Hitesh** » 06 Mar 2015 13:20

I am not sure if I would condone or follow the order that would cause me and my men to lay down arms and surrender to rebels who may not follow the Geneva Conventions. I would say, "hell with the order" and have my men keep the arms and fire a shot across the bow against the rebels as a stern warning.

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 06 Mar 2015 14:00

Aditya G wrote:<SNIP>Nevertheless, the Hind fleet should also be deployed in naxal theatre for the remainder of their life. They can be equipped with only chin gun in this role. High time for the commies to face their music

Commies being shot-down by a weapon system made in USSR? Oh! What an irony...

rkhanna · Post by **rkhanna** » 12 Mar 2015 15:38

Dont know if posted before but - Hope all of you take the time to read this.

The MASH Heros You’ve Never Heard Of

https://kapyongkorea.files.wordpress.co ... ngaraj.png
60th Para CO, Lt-Col A.G. Rangaraj

They were members of the 60th Para Field Ambulance … medics who were also parachutists, who jumped into combat alongside the fighting infantry. These MASH men of the 60th were not the boozy, skirt-chasing, wise-cracking cynics of the TV show.

It was typical 60th Para valour. In September, 1951, while attached to Commonwealth troops, they treated 448 casualties in six days of fighting. A month later they evacuated (under fire) another 150 wounded. In many other clashes later they were still in the thick of it. The Indians saved hundreds of wounded.

In all, they treated about 200,000 wounded. … which included 2,300 field medical operations … and in the meantime, also trained local Korean doctors and nurses.
The 60th Para received many decorations from their own country, and from South Korea, the UN, a US Bronze Star, and a unit citation from Douglas MacArthur. India also issued a postage stamp in tribute to their heroism. (Has Canada ever made such a gesture specifically honouring any of our army’s Korean feats?)

The 60th served in Korea for three and a half years, until February 1954, the longest single tenure of any unit in the entire war.

https://kapyongkorea.wordpress.com/2012 ... -heard-of/

vardhank · Post by **vardhank** » 12 Mar 2015 16:32

^^ what a wonderful post!

member_28640 · Post by **member_28640** » 12 Mar 2015 16:35

Gurji's do we still have the 60th Para Field Ambulance

Viv S · Post by **Viv S** » 12 Mar 2015 17:24

GopiN wrote:Gurji's do we still have the 60th Para Field Ambulance

Part of the 50th Para Brigade at Agra.

member_28640 · Post by **member_28640** » 12 Mar 2015 17:47

Thanks saar

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 12 Mar 2015 17:53

Yes, wonderful post about the achievements of the Indian medical group in Korea.

"Has Canada ever made such a gesture specifically honouring any of our army’s Korean feats?)"

Canada has to be, institutionally, one of the most anti-India countries, more so than the US. Perhaps rivaled only in the Western world, by the UK and Australia. By anti-India is not mean virulently hostile, but simply refusing to acknowledge any Indian achievement. And when doing so, only grudgingly and in murmurs. Warmth, effusiveness, liveliness, funkiness, is totally absent. Coldly correct, coldly polite, is usually the best you can hope for.