The seventh Indo-Seychelles joint training exercises, aiming to improve interoperability between both armies in counter-insurgency operations, today concluded at Victoria, Mahe Island in Seychelles.
Focused on interoperability in drills pertaining to counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism, a number of activities and exercises were conducted during the joint training.
It culminated today with a cordon and search operations, enmeshed with hostage rescue operations in an anti-piracy setting at Cape Ternay, with realistic orchestration of events extending over two days in an urban insurgency environment, an Army statement said.
An Indian contingent, comprising an infantry platoon and representatives from the special forces, attended the exercise 'Lamitye - 2016'.
The Seychelles People's Defence Forces (SPDF) was represented by the Tazar (Special Forces Unit) and Seychelles Infantry.
A total of 52 personnel from the SPDF took part in the exercise, including 20 from Tazar.
'Exercise Lamitye' meaning 'Friendship' in Creole has been a bridge between the armed forces of India and Seychelles since 2001.
Sources said that at least two terror camps were struck
during the surgical strikes.
"We can't allow terrorists to operate across the LoC. There has been a surge in infiltration," Gen Singh said.
Gen Singh said the operation to neutralise terrorists has since ceased and "we don't have any plans for any further operation as of now" but added the armed forces will not allow terrorists to carry out any attacks in J and K or any major Indian cities.
He said the strikes were launched after getting "very specific and credible" intelligence input that the infiltrators were being pushed to carry out attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and in some major Indian cities.
The announcement of the strikes was made soon after
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS) which was attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag and DGMO Singh.
Gen Singh said there were 20 infiltration bids on the border into India recently. He said there were Pakistani markings on GPS systems and on other recoveries made from them.
He said some terrorists were caught were residents of Pakistan. He said they were given training there.
"Despite our persistent urging that Pakistan respect its commitment made in January 2004 not to allow its soil or territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India, there have been no let up in infiltrations or terrorist actions inside our territory," he said.
Singh further said, "If the damage has been limited it has been primarily due to the efforts of soldiers of Indian army who are deployed in a multi-tier counter infiltration grid and most of the infiltration bids have been foiled at those locations. The Indian armed forces have been extremely vigilant in the face of continuing threat.
