Srinagar: In a first of its kind, the special forces of the three services of the Indian military will be deployed in Jammu and Kashmir to root out the terrorist menace in the valley. The Army’s Para (special forces), Navy’s Marine Commandos (MARCOS) and the Air Force’s Garud special forces will now conduct joint operations.
The forces will be working under the newly constituted Army Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD). Major General Ashok Dhingra is the first head of the AFSOD. The main reason for this deployment is to give the commandos the exposure to operating jointly in real operations.
AFSOD has been conducting exercises and practicing in different locations notably in Kutch and the Andaman Nicobar Islands.
The induction of the commandos have already started and the Para forces of the Army is now deployed in a terrorists infested area near Srinagar. MARCOS and Garud commandos will soon join the combined anti-terror operations.
Small teams of MARCOS and Garuds have operated in the valley earlier. However, this is the first time that all the special forces of the three services will come together to face the terrorists working in the valley.
