India To Hold Major Wargames Near Pakistan Border

INDIA SPACE

Indian Troops Face Pakistan. In 2002 India deployed more than 500,000 troops on the border with Pakistan after blaming Islamabad for a deadly attack by Islamist gunmen on the federal parliament in New Delhi.

New Delhi (AFP) Apr 27, 2005
India is mobilising 20,000 troops for May wargames on its northern borders in the largest movement of forces since 2002 when war almost broke out with Pakistan, defence sources said Wednesday.

The exercise would be held in the arid plains of Jallandhar in Punjab state, which borders Pakistan, defence ministry sources said.

Artillery and heavy armour would also be involved in the manoeuvres to hone the battle-readiness of India's million-plus armed forces, they said.

However the sources would not reveal the exact date of the wargames, although they said mobilisation has already begun.

"The exercise is of division strength and may also have components from the Indian air force," a senior ministry source told AFP, adding that advance notice had already been given to Pakistan.

The Jallandhar frontline saw major tank battles between India and Pakistan during their second and third wars in 1965 and 1971.

The ministry sources said the exercises would "occupy the better part of May" and added that various combat units from infantry and other military corps would be drawn in.

"It is an exercise to try out some of the new issues that have been incorporated in India's latest war doctrine," said a commander of a strike force, which is also assigned to the mock battles.

The doctrine prepared this year incorporates nuclear, chemical and biological warfare and counter-measures.

"Everything will be tried out. This will be perhaps the most comprehensive, sophisticated military event planned by us," one ministry official said, asking not to be identified.

In 2002 India deployed more than 500,000 troops on the border with Pakistan after blaming Islamabad for a deadly attack by Islamist gunmen on the federal parliament in New Delhi.

A 10-month standoff developed between the two nucear-armed adversaries, sparking international concern of a fourth war between India and Pakistan. The United States and Britain led mediation efforts which calmed military tensions.

Ties between India and Pakistan have since warmed and this month Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf visited New Delhi with both sides agreeing their peace process had become irreversible.

India's air force will hold joint exercises with the US air force in November, staging mock battles over the Kalaikunda district of West Bengal state in eastern India, officials said.

The exercises will mirror simulated US-Indian dogfights over the central Indian city of Gwalior last year.

The United States is expected to deploy a dozen F-16 fighters against India's Russian-built Sukhoi-30s, MiG-27s and French Mirage-2000 multirole jets.

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INDIA SPACE

India Will Launch Cartosat-1 In May: ISRO

Thiruvananthapuram, India (SPX) April 19, 2005
India will launch Cartosat-1 next month, the first of its kind with stereoscopic imaging capability, and INSAT-4A by the first week of August, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman G Madhavan Nair said Tuesday.

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