18.12.2007
Against the backdrop of enhanced threat
perception emanating to India's security from its vast southern
coastline and sea borne intrusions, the Indian Armed Forces
are planning a series of joint exercises next year in the
southern peninsula.
"This
is for the first time that the country's military planners
are focusing on threats to the country from the southern
peninsula," defence sources told the Times of India.
Frontline
fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force, along with warships
from the Navy and coastguard, and Army formations dedicated
to sea borne assaults would be engaged in these exercises
designed to ensure safety of vital sea lanes.
The
war games have also been planned to deal with threats
of intrusions from air and sea lanes by terrorist groups
and to deal with sea hijackings, the sources said. Though
the Armed Forces had earlier repeatedly sought to play
down possible threats from the LTTE for their acquisition
of air assets, the series of joint military exercises
are planned to cope with such attacks, the sources said.
The
holding of such exercises comes close on the heels of
Indian Air Force along with Coast Guard and Navy having
undertaken the first combat war games to test preparations
to meet with possible such threats.
Early
last week the Indian Armed Forces carried out a military
exercise in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
The
exercise which has been codenamed Operation Dakshin Prahar
was aimed at protecting oil tankers, nuclear installations
and ports against air raids particularly from "non-state
actors" - a reference to groups such as the LTTE
or Al Qaeda.
Courtesy - Daily
News