Balance Iroquois 2003: Indian-US Troops Train to Combat Terrorism

A mock terrorist jungle hideout in Mizoram, India.

At a remote jungle hideout in Northeast India, “mock terrorists” hold five “role-play” civilian hostages. Combined Indian and U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) have formed a Joint Action Group (JAG) to raid the mock terrorist camp, rescue the hostages, and capture the terrorist leader.

The terrorists have a heavily protected hideout and local security patrols. The Indian-U.S. JAG, however, has credible intelligence on terrorist operational procedures and the hideout’s layout. After boarding Indian Mi-17 helicopters, a JAG reconnaissance and strike team infiltrates the operational area and moves undetected toward the terrorist hideout, passing stealthily through mosquito and leech infested swamps, steep hills, and muddy terrain and crossing numerous streams and rivers. Despite the rugged terrain and hot humid weather, the JAG team reaches the terrorist hideout, confirms the target layout, rescues the civilian hostages, and captures the terrorist leader. The JAG exfiltrates the area on an Indian Mi-17 helicopter, returns civilian hostages to friendly control, and turns the former terrorist leader over to a notional law enforcement agency.

Combined Indian and U.S. Army Special Forces teams conduct an Indian fast roping technique, called “slithering,” from an Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter on Silchar Airfield, India, during Joint/Combined Exchange Training (JCET) Event BALANCE IROQUOIS 2003-01.

A U.S. Special Forces officer uses a sand table to brief operations to Indian and U.S. Special Forces teams at the Counter-Insurgency Jungle Warfare School, Mizoram, India.

Col. Steven B. Sboto, USA, is the U.S. Defense Attaché to India.