Article Posted on : - Nov 16, 2011

NEW DELHI (PTI): Elite Special Forces of the three Services carried out military exercise in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The tri-services Special Forces camp was hosted at the Car Nicobar Islands by the Headquarters, Andaman and Nicobar Command where commando teams carried out simulated raids at the Air Force Station, Car Nicobar, Army officials told PTI here.

A total of 105 commandos took part in the joint drills which included 40 troops from Army's elite Para (Special Forces), 32 Marine Commandos (MARCOS) and 18 Garuds from the Indian Air Force. The Garuds are the latest entrant to the defence forces' special forces.

The other major activities undertaken by the joint team of Special Forces included clandestine air diving, combat, beach reconnaissance and raid and ambushes, they said.

Against the backdrop of growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean, India has planned to increase its military presence in Andaman and Nicobar islands.

The country is planning to increase its aerial assets there and has operated its frontline Su-30MKI aircraft from there in the recent past. It is also looking to extend the length of its airstrips there and make them fit for operations of all types of aircraft.he army, which has stationed around 3,000 troops there, is also looking to increase the number of its troops there up to a division-size 10,000.