US special forces stationed India

[Paan Singh]

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Washington: US special forces teams are currently stationed in five South Asian countries including India as part of the counter-terrorism co-operation with these nations, a top Pentagon commander has disclosed.

These teams have been deployed by US Pacific Command as part of its effort to enhance their counter-terrorism capabilities, in particular in the maritime domain, Admiral Robert Willard, the PACOM Commander said yesterday.

"We have currently special forces assist teams - Pacific assist teams is the term - laid down in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, as well as India," Willard told lawmakers at a Congressional hearing in response to a question on co-operation with India on counter-terrorism issues.



"We are working very closely with India with regard to their counter-terrorism capabilities and in particular on the maritime domain but also government to government, not necessarily DOD (Department of Defence) but other agencies assisting them in terms of their internal counter-terror and counterinsurgency challenges," Willard said.

Willard said, Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (Let) is a very dangerous organisation. It not only has very good operational security, but also a lot of international design in terms of their aspirations.

"So it is a very important threat, and we're working very closely with the nations in the region to help contain it," he said.

The PACOM Commander was responding to a question from Congressman Joe Wilson as to what effort is being made to counter threat from LeT.

In his prepared statement, Willard told lawmakers that the US and India are working together on contain LeT.

"Responsible for many attacks in India, including the horrific attacks into Mumbai, LeT is headquartered in Pakistan, affiliated with al-Qaeda and other VEOs, and contributes to terrorist operations in Afghanistan and aspires to operate against Asia, Europe and North America," Willard said.

He said Pacific Command's Indian Engagement Initiative that resourced and hosted Mumbai counter terrorist specialists for training exercises and exchanges throughout the US, together with capacity-building activities with South Asian partners are mainly focused on containing LeT and contributing to CT self-sufficiency of the sub-region's militaries.
US special forces stationed India

[ZABASHO]

pretty much an open secret.... they do train with Indian security personnel and assist with tactics in CT/asymmetric warfare. After all they do have gained a lot of experience in such by operating in Pakistan for over a decade and also in Afghanistan so they can pretty much contribute as well as gain from this.

[Patriot]

Maybe India could not handle terrorist threats ( As we have seen in Mumbai Attack, Recent attack on diplomat) etc..so they requested US Special Forces protection which is completely understandable.

[Imran Khan]

nothing new for me they were in india long before too

[EastWest]

Well India is quite different from Pakistan.We have a border with Afghanistan and Tribal Areas where Government does not have any control where as you guys claim to have blue water navy, super duper armed forces and your NSG So called Commandos took 3-4 days to finish bunch of rag tag terrorists at Mumbai Hotel.

And we have a border with Pakistan who claims to have top most air force and army.

And btw about Mumbai attacks, even a US home land security expert said that US is not ready to handle a Mumbai style attack on one of their cities. Pakistanis are pretty big at talking but fail miserably when ask to back up with proof..

[Ajaxpaul]

Well India is quite different from Pakistan.We have a border with Afghanistan and Tribal Areas where Government does not have any control where as you guys claim to have blue water navy, super duper armed forces and your NSG So called Commandos took 3-4 days to finish bunch of rag tag terrorists at Mumbai Hotel.

We saw your special forces battle rag tag terrorist in your own naval base...and some of them escaped too. What did you do? Blame India and afghanistan. Thats all.

[hinduguy]

Duplicate thread. Another running with same title.
On topic: I dont like foregn forces on our soil unless it is for training and there is reciprocity.

[UDAYCAMPUS]

fishey!!!...........could end bad

[Abingdonboy]

Counter-terrorism: US special forces stationed in India, reveals Pentagon

duplicate thread, and read last post- this news is FALSE.

[ZABASHO]

Counter-terrorism: US special forces stationed in India, reveals Pentagon

duplicate thread, and read last post- this news is FALSE.

reported on NDTV too, not sure if false or not!

[asad71]

1. Indian SSB is already in BD posing as High Commission security detail.SSB has a history in BD.

2. Entire SA is WCC target. Let us not forget they first came as innocent monks and healers. Then as petty traders seeking protection from the administration. For various reasons SA is in their cross-hair. But the most compulsive is the steady growth of Muslium population and the resurgence of Islamic values in SA.

[Screambowl]

If true, this is only Diplomacy.

[Abingdonboy]

reported on NDTV too, not sure if false or not!

It is false, this is an ANNUAL joint SOF ex (I'm not sure if this is the one though as that was meant to be later in the year, this may be part of Yudh Abhays 2012), the following ex doesn'm mean Indian SOFs are stationed in US:

Joint Exercise Vajra Prahar

1st Special Forces Group and 4th Para Soldiers conduct joint training during Joint Exercise Vajra Prahar at Yakima Training Center in Yakima, Wa., Aug. 09, 2011. Vajra Prahar is conducted to help better Indian and United States Special Forces Soldiers through extensive training.

[jbgt90]

for one i doubt the news . politically it would be suicide for any party to let any other countries forces onto our soil . we did not do it during the cold war when we were actually venerable and a lot weaker than now. i doubt we will allow it today .

this report is in all probability talking about the fact the US special forces who come here to train at our CIJW and other CI schools ,(considering how inept our reporters are when it comes to understanding defense related issues)

yes we do have exchange programs but there have been no reports till now of US troops being stationed here.

[baker]

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Nothing new in this.. every embassy will be having small force for their security purpose... whther they can be SF,normal soldiers or covert agents.......