US Army sharpens anti-terror skills in Mizoram

Aizawl, Aug 28 (UNI) US Marines have commenced a joint exercise with India's special forces at Vairengte's Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School from today to sharpen their combat skills in fighting terrorism.

This is a follow-up to a similar joint exercise held last year at the world's premier jungle warfare school, Army sources said here. The training will end on September 16.

The United States is embroiled in fighting the 'global war against terrorism', declared after the 9/11. As a part of their endeavour, they are here to train themselves at this elite establishment of the Indian Army, a one-of-its-kind school in the world,'' said Brigadier Rakesh Mohan Painuly, commandant of the CIJWS and added, ''The US troops were a selected lot from their special ops forces.'' Brig Panuily, while welcoming the US troops yesterday, emphasised the importance of joint excercises with foreign armies and stressed on the Indian Army's doctrine of 'sub-conventional warfare'.

He also explained that the concept of 'Iron fist with velvet glove' implies a humane approach towards the populace at large in the conflict zone.

''This entails use of force only against foreign terrorists and other hardcore inimical elements, while affording full opportunity to indigenous misguided elements to shun violence and join the mainstream,'' Brig Panuily said.

Brigadier Panuily further stated, ''It must always be remembered that the populace is the centre of gravity of such operations and winning their hearts is central to all our efforts during conflict management and resolution.

''We, in the armed forces, have no choice but to train ourselves for today's war or else we may end up training for a war that we may never fight and continue fighting a war for which we were never trained,'' he said.

Established in the early 70s when the Mizo National Front-led insurgency in Mizoram was at its peak, the CIJW School is regularly hosting troops from many countries in anti-terror trainings.

UNI