NEW DELHI: Continuing with the high tempo of military exercises with other countries after last month’s hostilities with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, India has now conducted anti-submarine operations with the UK in the northern Arabian Sea, undertaken Special Forces drills with the US and is set for trilateral wargames in Mongolia.The Navy deployed stealth frigate INS Tabar, a Kalvari-class submarine and a long-range maritime patrol P-8I aircraft for the tactical exercise with an aircraft carrier strike group of the UK, which included HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Richmond, on June 9-10.India had forward deployed several frontline warships and submarines led by aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, with its MiG-29K fighters, in a dissuasive deterrent posture in the northern Arabian Sea when the IAF and Army had launched deep precision strikes against nine terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK on May 7. The deployment had bottled up the Pak Navy within its own shores in a defensive mode.The IAF’s Garud commandos, in turn, conducted intensive combat drills with their counterparts from the USAF at different locations in north India from May 26 to June 10, in the first-ever such Special Forces exercise called “Tiger Claw”. “The exercise aimed at expanding partnerships, mutual exchange of best practices in special operations, and joint training between the two air forces to develop interoperability,” an officer said.An Army contingent of Kumaon Regiment soldiers and some other units, including a woman officer and two women soldiers, also reached Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia on Wednesday to take part in the “Khaan Quest” exercise, with the US as the third participant in the drills from June 14 to 28.“The exercise’s aim is to prepare Indian armed forces for peacekeeping missions while operating in a multinational environment, thereby increasing interoperability and military readiness in peace,” an officer said.
