India boosts hit capability of Special Forces

30 Oct 2009

Agra: Emphasizing asymmetric warfare as a "matter of concern" for the country, Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor has said that the country's Special Forces were being modernised and better equipped to deal with it.

"There is a whole set of new equipment which we have thought of for the Para (Special Forces) modernisation, especially in view of the fact that asymmetric and fourth generation warfare are a matter for concern," Gen Kapoor said on the sidelines of the Parachute Regiment reunion here.

Asymmetric warfare is conflict between parties whose relative military power differs significantly, or whose strategy or tactics differ significantly.

Special Forces are more commonly referred to as 'commandos,' and are trained to carry out military operations of an unconventional nature. These include using tactics not commonly deployed by military men, who are trained for conventional battle scenarios.

Commenting on the Taliban's recent threats to attack India, he said, "I would like to ensure the country that we are ready to face any challenge."

On the training standards and the equipment of Indian Special Forces, Army Training Command chief, and senior paratrooper Lt Gen AS Lamba said, "I think we are among the best and we are making endeavours to improve our equipment and are very well geared up to put our best foot forward."