Para Commandos: 'Surgical Strikes' with clinical precision, forte of 'Special Forces' unit of Indian Army

The ‘surgical strikes’ by Indian army across the LoC to inflict damage on terror launch pads were executed by the brave Para Commandos of the Parachute regiment of the Indian army. Whenever an operation of this nature has to be carried out the 'Special Forces' units of the armed forces have accomplished their mission assigned with clinical precision.

The Parachute regiment is considered one the elite regiments of the Indian army as the nature of covert operations they carry out are highly unconventional and difficult to execute.

The Indian army also has one of the best special Forces in the world. The Parachute regiment of the army has special forces battalions who have been considered the best in their class .

Para (Special Forces) is a special forces unit of the Indian Army which is tasked with missions such as special operations, direct action, hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, counter-proliferation, counter- insurgency, seek and destroy and personnel recovery.

PARACHUTE REGIMENT

Role:   Airborne Infantry and Special Forces

Type of Units:  Special forces, Airborne

Regimental Colours:   Maroon and Sky Blue

Regimental Center: Bangalore

Motto: Shatrujeet

Regiment Insignia:   An open parachute with wings spread out and a dagger placed upright, between the wings

Battle honours:   Shelatang, Naushera, Poonch, Jhanger, Hajipir, Poongli Bridge, Mandhol, and Chachro

History:

The parachute units of the Indian Army are among the oldest airborne units in the world. The Indian Parachute Regiment was formed on 1st March 1945, consisting of four battalions and an equal number of independent companies. Despite the performance in Operation Dracula, the Indian Parachute Regiment was disbanded in late 1945 as part of the reduction and restructuring of the postwar British Indian Army. 

After independence, the airborne division was divided between the armies of India and newly formed Pakistan, with India retaining 50th and 77th brigades while Pakistan took possession of the 14th Parachute Brigade.

Para (SF) personnel, like other parachute troops in the Indian military, wear a maroon beret. In addition, they wear a Special Forces tab on each shoulder. Personnel who serve in the Para (SF) are allowed to wear the Balidaan (Sacrifice) patch on their right pocket below the name plate, which is similar to the SAS beret insignia; only para commandos are allowed to wear the patch.

Operations: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Operation Blue Star, Operation Cactus, Operation Pawan, Kashmiri hostage taking 1995, Kargil War (1999), Operation Rakshak, Operation Khukri

It is noteworthy that In 1999, nine out of ten parachute battalions were deployed for OP Vijay in Kargil, which bears testimony to the operational profile of the regiment.

While elements of the parachute brigade (6 PARA & 7 PARA ) cleared the Mushkoh Valley intrusions, 5 Para was actively involved in the forgotten sector Batalik, where it exhibited great courage and tenacity, and was awarded the COAS unit citation.