The month-long ‘Ram Prahar’ train, involving 20,000 troopers, simulated offensive operations throughout the Pakistan border in Punjab (ANI photograph)
DEHRADUN: In a big present of fight readiness, Indian Military‘s Western Command carried out a month-long built-in floor and air drill involving over 20,000 personnel, simulating offensive operations throughout the Pakistan border in Punjab. The train, which was first of its type held in Uttarakhand by the Military, concluded close to Haridwar on Saturday and was held in terrain mimicking the riverside plains of Punjab.The ‘Ram Prahar’ train was carried out by the Ram division of the Kharga Corps below Western Command. Although the placement operationally falls below Central Command, military officers mentioned it was chosen on account of geographical similarities with the Punjab sector. The train included fighter jets, reconnaissance plane, Apache assault helicopters, amphibious armored autos, tanks, drone-based surveillance, and night-time paratrooper deployment.Basic Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Command, Lieutenant Basic Manoj Kumar Katiyar, who inspected and validated the ultimate section of the drill, mentioned it centered on rehearsing responses to main provocations by Pakistan. “Within the current Operation Sindoor, we delivered a strong response, which resulted in intensive harm to Pakistani forces. However we doubt whether or not it has discovered any lesson. If there’s one other mischief by it, we’re ready to reply with far larger pressure, together with coming into Pakistan from Punjab,” he mentioned. He added that the placement was chosen because it allowed simulation of riverine obstacles just like these present in Punjab. “We conduct workouts in operational areas below different instructions too to make sure readiness,” he mentioned. A senior Military officer concerned within the train informed TOI, requesting anonymity, that the drill examined operational agility, multi-domain capabilities and real-time coordination throughout land, air and cyber domains.Lt Gen Mohan Bhandari (retired), former deputy director common of navy operations in the course of the Kargil struggle, informed TOI the drill was important to check preparedness for the Punjab sector. “Pakistan has constructed quite a few canals in Punjab to behave as obstacles towards our armored and mechanized models. Workout routines simulating such situations improve operational effectivity as a result of final victory comes below the boots of infantry on enemy land,” mentioned Lt Gen Bhandari (retired) who carried out related drills throughout his time in Western Command.
