India holds wargames near Pakistan border

The Indian military said on Tuesday that it has held large-scale military exercises involving its main strike corps close to the tense border with nuclear-armed rival Pakistan.

The Indian military said on Tuesday that it has held large-scale military exercises involving its main strike corps close to the tense border with nuclear-armed rival Pakistan.

HT Image

The three-day manoeuvres, code-named Hind Shakti ('Indian Power'), were held in the arid plains of northern Punjab state and wrapped up on Tuesday, officials said.

"The exercise entailed participation by mechanised and infantry divisions in a blitzkrieg type armoured incursion," emphasising "rapid penetration into enemy territory," the defence ministry said in a statement.

Officials said the exercises involved the elite Kharga Corps and that similar war games by India's two remaining strike units were also being planned.

"The manoeuvres will factor in various scenarios, including the worsening situation in our neighbourhood," a Kharga Corps commander said.

The exercises come amid increasing concern in New Delhi over the stand-off between the Taliban and the Pakistani military. Last month the Indian government said the crisis across the border was a threat to the entire region.

Indian officials also say they have detected an increase in attempted incursions into the Indian part of disputed Kashmir by Islamic militants.

India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir since independence from Britain in 1947.