CHINESE CHEQUERS

From a purely military view, the first-ever Indo-China army exercise that kicked off in Kunming, Yunnan, this week is a very basic, low-leve...

From a purely military view, the first-ever Indo-China army exercise that kicked off in Kunming, Yunnan, this week is a very basic, low-level war game. Indian military analysts do not feel that the company-level exercise8212;involving 100-odd troops from each side8212;will do anything significant in improving understanding between the two armies that are deployed dangerously close to each other along most of the disputed Sino-Indian border. However, policy makers at South Block agree that 8216;Hand-in-Hand 20078217; is a good start that may pave the way for greater interactions in the future. Chinese troops are expected to come to India next year for a follow-on exercise and the two countries are talking of making such war games an annual feature.

The Setting:
The idea of a joint exercise between the countries kicked off with Pranab Mukherjee8217;s visit to Beijing last year during which a defence MoU was signed. Sources at army HQ say China insisted on a 8216;joint training8217; and were not too comfortable with the idea of a full fledged war game. However, the two sides agreed on an anti-terror exercise8212;in acknowledgment of India8217;s forte in tackling insurgency for over three decades 8212;preceded by a short round of 8216;familiarisation8217; training. As Beijing puts it, the exercise would be aimed at what it calls the 8220;three evil forces8221;8212;separatism, extremism and terrorism.

The warriors:
The Indian army is keen to show off one of its best fighting outfits for the exercise. It is fielding a company-level contingent 98 Army personnel, including officers of the battle-hardened 15 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry JAKLI. The handpicked soldiers have seen action in both theatres of anti-terror operations8212;Jammu and Kashmir and the North East. The unit is currently involved in active anti-insurgency operations in the North East and has served several tenures in their home state. Half of the soldiers in the unit belong to Jammu and Kashmir.

The weaponry:
While the Indian forces are only carrying their personal weapons like the INSAS rifle, light machine guns and mortars, China will provide heavier firepower with four indigenous tanks and a helicopter gunship. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle of the Peoples Liberation Army will perform a tactical reconnaissance role. In addition, a Chinese electronic warfare unit will intercept enemy communications and jam their networks.

The first round:
l The first phase, to start as soon as an Indian Air Force IL 76 aircraft lands with Indian troops in Kunming, is aimed at familiarising the participating troops with each other8217;s weapons and basic operational techniques.
l Indian troops will show their Chinese counterparts basic techniques like how they attack a suspected terrorist hideout, how a house search is carried out, techniques for laying an ambush and the standard cordon-and-search operations.
l The Chinese army, which is fighting a low-key campaign against 8216;separatist activities8217; of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province, will also display its anti-terror skills to the Indians. The participating soldiers will also fire each other8217;s weapons during the first round.

The Second Phase:
After completing basic training and establishing communication linkages with each other, the two participating companies will get 8216;enmeshed8217; into mixed formations. Essentially, two new companies will be formed8212;the first one consisting of two Indian and a Chinese platoon and the other with two Chinese and one Indian platoon. The first two phases are aimed at preparing troops for the actual war game

The REAL Battle:
l Indo-Chinese relations have been increasing fast over the past three years on the backbone of strong economic ties. The opening of the Nathu La pass for cross border trade last year was a significant milestone. No surprise then that the war game is aimed at neutralising a threat to the growing trade between the countries.
l The tactical situation laid out specifies anti-terror operations in an urban environment involving the local population and built up areas that are being used as terror hideouts. In the scenario, a terror outfit in China attacks a cross border trading post and manages to kill a few traders to 8216;sour8217; relations between the countries. They also take a few traders as hostages and retreat to a stronghold. India and China then launch a joint anti-terror operation to neutralise the threat.
l The two 8216;enmeshed8217; companies jointly attack the hideout to apprehend the terrorists and secure the hostages. Tanks are used to blow up buildings and roadblocks, the UAVs provide real time visual inputs of the battle area and troops on the ground are directed by a battalion headquarter manned by a senior Indian and Chinese army officer.
8212; Manu Pubby