Still awaiting an exact timeline of events but from what once can understand right now:
-5 terrorists involved
-They came with the intention of destroying IAF aircraft (massive amounts of explosives found with them)
-3 Indian Security Forces killed-2 DSC and 1 Garud Commando of the IAF
- The Security establishment was aware an attack was coming to this base based on intercepts by Indian intel agences
-As a result NSG, PARA (SF) and 2-4 columns of infantry were brought in
-Shops asked to close in the area
- Families told to remain inside
-Perimiter/exlcusion zone around the base was extended
- Terrorists were detected the moment they tried to gain acsess to the base(apparently though a drain) by airborne assets of the IAF.
- No damage to any strategic assets nor loss of civlian life
The loss of the three security forces is terribly but this was a massively succesful operation on all levels- from the intel agencies to the guys on the ground they performed exceptionally, especially considering there was only about 24-36 hours of warning. This was not another case of India being caught napping (actually another example of the fact it has woken up in the past few years).
Something worth mentioning is that it is very interesting to see that the GoI deployed the NSG. Usually in incidents like this (in the "frontier areas") the Army would take the lead and hence deploy their assets (SF if need be) or we could expect inter-service rivary to play its part and the IAF insiting they be left alone and only ramping up the deployment of Garuds. But in this instance, everyone worked together, the resources were optimally used and there was great success. It shows the potential of the Indian forces if they are utilised properly (from a command level) with expediency. It also highlights the need for the SOCOM, NOW! I couldn't think of a more fitting example to demonstrate the benefits of such an organisation. There needs to be a more institutionalised response going foreward.
I am glad the NSG is being properly utilised as India's go-to internal security crisis unit and I do think this is something that has been further strengthened under this GoI. In 2014 the MHA is said to have MASSIVELY increased the budget of the NSG (some peolpe say quadrupuled but I can't believe it) and in the past 18 months I know for a fact they have been more active then ever before in terms of live drills on exsisting infrastructure, increased cross training with state/local emergency response units, more active threat analysis, more proactive foreward deployments etc etc. I think this GoI has given the NSG a longer leash and hence more autonomy. This is what the NSG was born to do and thankfully they are actually having their potential tapped instead of wasting in Manesar year after year as had happened in the past.
Lastly, the Punjab stretch of the IB needs to face enourmous scrutiny by the security establishment now, this is the second time in a year this stretch has been used to infilitrate into India for an attack in Punjab. The LoC is all but impenetrable these days so naturally the attention will turn to weaker spots and hopfully a holistic approach is taken to secure all of India's land borders now not just the IB. The LoC's example is clear- yes it is highly expensive but it is proven to work.
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Any news on the Garud commando that was killed? The names (and pics) of the DSC guys have been released but not his.
RIP all warriors.
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