Article Posted on : - Oct 30, 2009

A File Photo.

AGRA (PTI): Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor has said that asymmetric warfare was a "matter of concern" for the country and the Special Forces were being modernised and equipped to deal with it.

"There is a whole set of new equipment which we have thought of for the Para (Special Forces) modernisation, especially in view of the fact that asymmetric and fourth generation warfare are a matter for concern," Gen Kapoor told PTI on the sidelines of the Parachute Regiment reunion here.

In asymmetric warfare, non-state actors fight against conventional state machinery and apply innovative ways for carrying out strikes such as the 26/11 attacks.

Commenting on the spurt in activities of Taliban in Pakistan and Indian armed forces' preparedness to deal with the threat, he said, "I would like to assure the country that we are ready to face any challenge."

On the training standards and the equipment of Indian Special Forces, Army Training Command Chief and senior Para officer Lt Gen A S Lamba said, "I think we are among the best and we are making endeavours to improve our equipment and are very well geared up to put our best foot forward.

Terming the Indian Special Forces as one of the best, Colonel of the Parachute Regiment Lt Gen P C Katoch said, "I think that is the reason why the US Army and Special Forces train with us.

"They were surprised to see our experience and achievements. It is not just the Americans we are training with, we are doing so with the British, Russian and many others forces also."

He added that the Army was making sure that the Special Forces were keeping pace with their requirements.

"Keeping the future in mind, we are planning on what is to be procured for short and long terms," Katoch said.

The seven units of the Special Forces are deployed in counter-insurgency areas in Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir.

After the 26/11 attacks, these units were also given the task of training Infantry units for close-quarter combat and urban terrorism.

Personnel from these units are sent on deputation to the National Security Guard also. Havaldar Gajendra Singh from 10 Para (SF) unit was awarded the highest peace-time gallantry award Ashok Chakra posthumously for his role in eliminating terrorists involved in the Mumbai attacks last year.