After a tough fight, Indian forces manage to capture Abu Abida, the dreaded warlord who, with the covert support of a neighbouring state, had been pushing in heavily armed insurgents to subvert the country. As the terrorist is escorted out of the war zone with the help of American forces, the convoy is attacked by militants trying to free him. Within minutes, Indian and US Army soldiers mount a rescue mission, pummelling the enemy village with tank and Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) fire. US troops are air-dropped by Indian helicopters to mop up the remains.

The setting might as well be Iraq or Afghanistan, where US troops face such situations on routine basis, but this is in fact a nondescript firing range 400 km south of Delhi where the two countries have just concluded their largest ever army exercise. Incidentally, the Babina range has a past dating back to the British days — its full form is British Army Base in North Asia.

While joint foreign deployments may be some time off, the most complex war game between the two countries has made one thing clear — India and US can now operate together in a hostile environment like Iraq or Afghanistan and deliver the goods.

“I will be comfortable going with the Indian Army anywhere, anytime,” said Lt Gen Benjamin Mixon, Commander, US Army, Pacific at the conclusion of a 15-day exercise that involved over 300 US troops and 17 Stryker ICVs brought in from Hawaii.

And he has reason to be confident. Before capturing Abida, the two armies launched an audacious attack on “an insurgent base”, complete with the destructive firepower of T-90 tanks, Stryker ICVs and bunker-busting capabilities of the US Javelin missile.

... contd.