Explained: Indian Army’s secretive Tibetan squad; why it’s key in China tussle

Amid the continuing tension between India and China at the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, the name of a secretive unit of the Indian Army - the Special Frontier Force - has been cropping up, especially with regard to Indian troops' action on the intervening night of August 29 and 30. The SFF played a key role in Indian soldiers gaining control of strategically important heights on the southern bank of the Pangong Tso. This Army unit, also known as Establishment 22, and Vikas Regiment, was set up in the wake of Chinese aggression in 1962. Ever since then, it has seen action on many occasions and combat theatres, but experts believe that this is the first time that the SFF has been deployed directly against the Chinese. What makes this fact special is that the SFF mainly consists of Tibetans, many of whom had to take refuge in India due to Chinese occupation of their land. Thus, their deployment in Ladakh amid the ongoing face-off is also a political message to Beijing from Delhi. Watch the full video for more about the SFF's history and the significance of their deputation to Ladakh during the current standoff. Chinese military images courtesy: eng.chinamil.com.cn