India holds wargames near Pakistan border

[Naveed Yaseen]

NEW DELHI (May 06 2009): The Indian military said Tuesday it has held large-scale military exercises involving its main strike corps close to the tense border with Pakistan. The three-day manoeuvres, code-named Hind Shakti ('Indian Power'), were held in the arid plains of northern Punjab state and wrapped up on Tuesday, officials said.

"The exercise entailed participation by mechanised and infantry divisions in a blitzkrieg type armoured incursion," emphasising "rapid penetration into enemy territory," the defence ministry said in a statement. Officials said the exercises involved the elite Kharga Corps and that similar war games by India's two remaining strike units were also being planned.

"The manoeuvres will factor in various scenarios, including the worsening situation in our neighbourhood," a Kharga Corps commander told AFP. The exercises come amid increasing concern in New Delhi over the stand-off between the Taliban and the Pakistani military. Last month the Indian government said the crisis across the border was a threat to the entire region.

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