According to Army Chief Gen. Manoj Pande, the Army has identified a holding formation on the Western front and a Strike formation on the Northern borders. These to be converted into agile Integrated Battle Groups (IBG).
- As per the Army Chief, consultations are complete and is now in the process of final compilation.
Background
- After the terrorist attack on Parliament in 2001, the Indian military undertook massive mobilisation but the Army’s formations which were deep inside took weeks to mobilise loosing the element of surprise.
- After this, the Army formulated a proactive doctrine known as ‘Cold Start’ to launch swift offensive.
- Its existence was consistently denied in the past. Its existence was acknowledged for the first time by Gen. Rawat in January 2017.
Salient features of IBGs
- The purpose of restructuring the existing formations into integrated battle groups is to have forces which are lean, agile and tailor-made.
- The concept of IBG has already been test-bedded by the Army’s 9 Corps and was later validated by the 17 Mountain Strike Corps in its exercises.
- Each IBG would be tailor made based on Threat, Terrain and Task.
- Resources will be allotted based on the three T’s.
- The idea is for them to be light with centralised logistics and be able to mobilise within 12 -48 hrs based on the location.
- The IBGs will also be defence and offensive in nature.
About Cold Start Doctrine
- The name ‘Cold Start’ suggests the wish to avoid a full-scale ‘hot’ war. It means Indian forces making swift and hard inroads into Pakistan.
- The doctrine envisages swift deployment of troops on the western border within days if a situation of a full-blown war arises.
- This doctrine aims to allow Indian forces to conduct sustained attacks while preventing a nuclear retaliation from Pakistan. T
- The operation would be carried out by a unified battle group involving various branches of India’s military.
(The Hindu and IE)
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