Navy chief announces joint doctrine for Special Forces operations

New Delhi, Sept 30 : The 'Joint Doctrine for Special Forces Operations' was formally unveiled here today by the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Admiral Sureesh Mehta.

Authored by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staffs, Doctrine Branch, the document covers the organisational set up and special characteristics of the Special Forces, and highlights their suitability for various roles, ranging from strategic and operational level tasks to unconventional warfare and counter insurgency or counter terrorism tasks.

The doctrine also charts out the ideal command and control organisation necessary for joint special forces tasking, joint planning aspects at the theatre level, including operational, environmental and intelligence requirements.

It also briefly covers, apart from the aspects of detailed planning, the conduct of rehearsals and integration of Special Forces in the overall theatre plans.

The doctrine emphasises the need for providing timely, wholesome and accurate intelligence, fire support by attack helicopters, naval gunfire, artillery, precision guided munitions and rockets for the successful conduct of special operations.

It highlights the importance of various aspects of joint training to achieve greater cohesion and understanding necessary for conducting joint special operations.

The Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, Lieutenant General HS Lidder, and a number of distinguished inter-service officers attended the function.

ANI