Indian, US special forces hold exercises in Ladakh

Hindustan Times ^ | September 06 2003 | AFP

[knighthawk]

US and Indian special forces are holding joint exercises on high-altitude operations in Ladakh, a Himalayan region on the sensitive frontiers with Pakistan and China, officials said on Saturday.

The two-week manoeuvres are focused on training for high-altitude operations, including "mountain safety, acclimatisation and medical aspects," a US embassy official said.

Indian defence ministry officials have given few details about the joint manoeuvres that begin on Friday in Ladakh, which is administratively part of Kashmir but has been relatively untouched by the terrorism.

Defence Minister George Fernandes on Friday said there was "no political reason" behind the exercises.

"In the past, we have held such exercises with some Asian countries. We have also done it with the US. Such exercises are carried out so that countries get to know the areas of strength and weakening of its military," Fernandes said.

Officials declined to say how many US and Indian personnel were involved in the operation.

The manoeuvres are the third phase of the joint Indian-US training sessions in extreme weather, codenamed "Balance Iroquois".

Previous exercises were carried out in May 2002 near Agra where temperatures reached 45 degrees (113 Fahrenheit) and in October that year in frigid Alaska.

The Agra exercises were the first between India and the United States in 39 years.

Relations between the countries were strained during the Cold War, when India tilted towards the Soviet Union. Washington imposed military sanctions on India and Pakistan after the arch-rivals carried out nuclear tests within days of each other in May 1998.

The sanctions were lifted on the two countries after they joined the US-led "coalition against terrorism" following the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The United States has said its military cooperation with India will not be harmed by New Delhi's rejection of a US proposal to send troops to Iraq.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Dr Warmoose]

I wonder if those IT workers who make 1/10th the salary of their US counterparts are willing to fork over one-third of their salary to the government so that India can learn to fight her own battles rather than expect the displaced American worker to continue to underwrite the costs of their replacement's defense.

[1rudeboy]

It would be interesting to compare marginal tax rates, but that shouldn't get in the way of your rant.

[Dr Warmoose]

It would be interesting to compare marginal tax rates, but that shouldn't get in the way of your rant.

Hey, I am going to rant regardless. So lets compare those marginal tax rates. I also want to factor in government regulation that makes property expensive, insurance compulsory, the factored costs of lawsuits and medical insurance too. If the hidden half of FICA alone costs an employer more than the total cost of an Indian, and the Indian can live relatively comfortable on such low wages, it speaks volumes for the overhead and costs that are imposed on your average "Producer" in the united States.

[The Pheonix]

The US ARmed Forces was and still is carrying out military exercises with the armed forces of

S,Korea,

Japan,

Thailand,

Australia,

New Zealand,

Singapore,

Philipines

and even on a much bigger scale than that with India, e.g. the one with Thailand even involving amphibious landings

[1rudeboy]

And what does that have to do with American forces engaged in high-altitude exercises with Indian troops?

[swarthyguy]

Very interesting. Unpublicised. Close to Osama's Eagle's Nest, close to the Chinese border.