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India Today
24-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
In a first, J&K special forces train in jungle warfare after Pahalgam attack
In a first-of-its-kind move, the Jammu and Kashmir Police has begun training its Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel in jungle warfare, a step aimed at combating increasingly dangerous and terrain-savvy terrorists operating in the Union Territory's mountainous in the 1990s, the SOG is a specialised wing of the Jammu & Kashmir jungle warfare training decision follows the dastardly attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran Valley on April 22, where terrorists used dense forest cover to launch a terror attack, killing 26 people. The incident forced security forces to re-evaluate their preparedness for such guerrilla According to top officials, the lack of actionable intelligence and the challenging terrain were key takeaways from the attack, prompting the need for specialised jungle warfare charge of this shift is DGP Nalin Prabhat, a 1992 batch IPS officer from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, who assumed office in October 2023. Known for his past role as commander of the elite anti-Naxal Greyhounds, Prabhat has directed that SOG units undergo intensive training in jungle and high-altitude warfare."The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle," a senior officer said, highlighting the seriousness of the ongoing tactical TRAININGSOG units are being trained at multiple locations. Some batches have already undergone intensive training, while others are being prepared for advanced modules. Training partnerships include sessions with Greyhounds in Telangana and at the Jungle Warfare School. Regional training camps include the White Knight Corps base in Talwara and Corps Battle Schools (CBS) in these centres, SOG personnel, usually in teams of 30–50, are trained to move undetected, survive in hostile conditions for days, and navigate dense forests while tracking FOR TERRAIN MASTERYAfter the Pahalgam attack, SOG personnel launched a follow-up operation in Shopian's Keller Forest and neutralised three terrorists after hours of pursuit. The operation was hailed not just for eliminating threats, but for demonstrating improved terrain mastery and relentless pursuit under difficult jungle warfare is not just about combat. Intelligence, particularly HUMINT (human intelligence), is now at the core of SOG strategy. Officials say the absence of local intel in Pahalgam was a turning point. Since then, training has emphasized the cultivation of informant networks in remote regions - where trust can matter more than THREAT OF INFILTRATIONThere's growing concern about Pakistan-backed terrorists slipping through the Line of Control. Some of these operatives are reportedly ex-SSG or Para Commandos, like Pahalgam attacker Hashim Musa. A senior JKP official revealed that around 4,000 SOG personnel are actively involved in joint operations with the Army, and that jungle warfare skills will give them a tactical edge."While intelligence has long been JKP's strength, jungle warfare training is what will help us match the enemy's terrain advantage," said a former top police past two years have seen a rise in attacks in the Jammu division, particularly Poonch and Rajouri. In response, small SOG teams of 4–5 members have been regularly patrolling deep forests, occupying heights and setting up pickets to increase the likelihood of direct encounters. This proactive approach has helped reduce attacks in recent WARFARE ADAPTATIONWhen the battlefield moves from forest to village, SOG units shift tactics to Cordon and Search Operations (CASO). Operations in Shopian and Anantnag have focused on precision, crowd control and minimising civilian harm. Insights from decorated officers like Colonel Vikrant Prasher of 10 Para SF, experts in forest and high-altitude warfare, are now being incorporated into the SOG's evolving LIES AHEADFormer Army Chief Gen (Retd) VP Malik highlighted the importance of terrain familiarity and human intelligence. Commenting on Operation Sindoor, he said how a combined strategy of surveillance, military operations and diplomatic engagement - similar to India's response after Kargil - remains the annual Amarnath Yatra approaching in June-end, the need for heightened vigilance remains. As security forces anticipate fresh infiltration attempts, jungle warfare-trained SOG units will form a key part of the counter-terror strategy going Watch
News18
09-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
How Jodhpur Lived Through 1965 And 1971 Wars In 'L' And 'U' Trenches
Last Updated: Veterans recall past India-Pakistan wars where civilian courage became a key defence, turning fear into resilience amid intense attacks and bombing raids India on Thursday night neutralised Pakistan 's attempt to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and some other locations with missiles and drones as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider military conflict. In Jodhpur, veterans and senior citizens, who lived through the thunder of war decades ago in 1965 and 1971, recall the intensity of past attacks and how civilian fortitude turned into a crucial line of defence. Dalip Singh, who belongs to Jodhpur's erstwhile royal family and witnessed the 1965 war, recalls the night the city trembled. 'More than 200 bombs were dropped by the Pakistani Air Force. The first strike hit the Central Jail near the railway station where over 30 lives were lost," Singh told Local18. He described another targeted assault at the Sardar Club, where two heavy bombs were dropped in which one of them landed on the golf course and exploded. Decades later, Deepak Singh Gehlot, an entrepreneur and eyewitness to the 1971 war, saw fear sweeping through Jodhpur. 'The city transformed overnight. Trenches, five feet deep and shaped like Ls and Us, were dug everywhere. People had their dinners early and kept emergency bags ready. The moment the air raid siren howled, it was total blackout," he said. He also recalled the eerie silence as the civil defence jeeps prowled the streets, issuing warnings under cover of darkness. 'We used to sit by the radio, waiting to hear Prime Minister Indira Gandhi address the nation. Then, late into the night, Jodhpur's skies were lit by bombs once again," he added. In the 1971 war, Pakistan's air strikes on Punjab cities were followed by attacks on Jodhpur. But India retaliated with unmatched precision. Ten Para Commandos, supported by tanks, advanced nearly 80 kilometres into Sindh's Tharparkar district and captured Chhachhar – later returned as part of the Shimla Agreement. But beyond the battlegrounds, a quieter, yet equally determined resistance took shape across rural Rajasthan. In villages, the chaupals (the traditional community gathering places) turned into wartime classrooms. 'Schools were shut, and teachers taught children that showing light could betray the soldiers," said a former teacher from Barmer. Folk songs took on a patriotic fervour, with verses like ' Andheri Raat Ri Kahay Reech, Dushman Jave Dekhe Na Dekhe ' by Rahat Indori, teaching villagers to embrace darkness as an act of defiance. Women, too, played a powerful role. By night, with no lights to betray them, they knitted sweaters, socks, and jackets for soldiers on the front lines. One tale often retold in Jodhpur is of an elderly mother who, as she sent her son to war, said: 'You've extinguished the light of my courtyard; now return after lighting the flame of our nation." First Published:
