The Indian Army’s Para Special Forces are currently showcasing their capabilities in a joint exercise with their U.S. counterparts, the Green Berets, as part of the 15th edition of the annual wargame known as ‘Vajra Prahar’ or ‘Thunderbolt Attack.’ This exercise, which has garnered attention for its strategic importance, involves 45 soldiers from the Indian Army’s Parachute Regiment and is being held at the Orchard Combat Training Center in southwest Idaho.
The Vajra Prahar 2024 exercise will focus on various critical military operations, including planning joint team missions and conducting reconnaissance missions. During these operations, participants may need to call upon external resources for support, a task typically handled by the Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC). The training will also cover essential areas such as aerial resupply using drones and strategies related to psychological warfare.
Special forces, by their very nature, are adept at carrying out unconventional warfare tactics and are trained to perform secretive operations behind enemy lines rather than engaging in standard conventional battlefields. The Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army, distinguished by their maroon berets and ‘Balidan’ badge, consists of 14 battalions, including nine special forces and five airborne units, adept at being airdropped deep into hostile territories to secure significant tactical advantages for ground forces.
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In previous iterations of Vajra Prahar, the two forces have collaborated on complex combat free fall (CFF) insertions from safe distances, allowing for stealthy disembarkation, as well as water insertion drills. The ongoing exercises demonstrate a commitment to enhancing joint operational capabilities between the Indian Army and U.S. Special Forces.
The Indian Army has maintained a level of discretion regarding the specific identities and faces of the soldiers currently engaged in the exercises, underscoring their sensitivity toward the operations of their special forces. Historically, the Parachute Regiment, known for its elite status, won the ‘Race of the Rambos’ competition in 2002, triumphing over 12 participating nations, including the U.S.
The Indian Para commandos carry a rich legacy, having participated in significant military operations over decades, including the wars of 1965 and 1971, the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka during Operation Pawan in 1987, and the crucial Operation Cactus in 1988, aimed at thwarting a coup in the Maldives.
One of their most notable actions came in 2016 when Indian para commandos executed a surgical strike against terrorist launch pads in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, in direct retaliation for a terror attack in Uri that claimed the lives of 19 Indian soldiers. This operation marked a pronounced shift in India’s approach to counterterrorism, being the first overt declaration of a covert military operation.
On the other hand, the Green Berets have a storied history characterized by their adaptability and effectiveness in combat. Pioneering U.S. military efforts post-9/11, they played pivotal roles in the initial phases of the War on Terror by assisting the Northern Alliance to overthrow the Taliban and have since been involved in various counterinsurgency and special operations around the globe, including Iraq, the Philippines, and parts of Africa.
The collaboration between these elite forces is indicative of an increasing focus on joint operational synergy, highlighting the strategic partnership between India and the United States in addressing contemporary defense challenges.
