Army not to re-deploy tank regiments for J-K insurgency

Army not to re-deploy tank regiments for J-K insurgency
GAURAV C SAWANT

JHANSI/NEW DELHI, DEC 3: The Army has decided against redeploying tank regiment soldiers for counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir following ``changed politico-military situation'' in Pakistan.

The Army had started an experiment last year to send Armoured Corps men to fight terrorists in J&K. The tanks were ``moth balled'' and the tank men carried out operations like infantry soldiers for almost a year. ``It was an innovative step. The infantry's involvements on the Line of Control, Siachen and along the Chinese border was so much that troops got little respite from active field duties.

Funds did not permit raising more regiments. So we experimented by sending armoured troops to perform the infantry's task,'' said an officer in the Army headquarters.

There was also a feeling that with no active role after the 1971 war, the tank regiments were ``cooling their heels'' and ``using them in CI operations would have had two advantages.

One, that the Armoured Corps officers and men would learnmore about infantry operations in mountain and high altitude areas. Secondly, it would give some rest to the infantry soldiers,'' he added.

The Army's plan worked like a dream but what planners had not even dreamt about was Pakistan's intrusion in Kargil. ``Suddenly, in May, Pakistan's intrusions in Batalik, Kargil and Drass areas were detected. As soon as the magnitude of the crisis and the nature of intrusions became apparent, the Army headquarters decided to pull back the Armoured Corps troops from CI operations,'' said an officer.

The Army wanted to keep the option of crossing across into Pakistan from Punjab and Rajasthan open and required the tank regiments to be on operational preparedness.

In Babina cantonment, the Hodson's Horse celebrated their ``successful stint'' in J&K CI operations. ``We have added another chapter to our glorious history,'' said Colonel Purshottam Manhas, Commanding Officer of 4 Horse where several retired and serving officers gathered to celebrate the victory in thehistoric battle of Cambrai in France in November 1917.