High-altitude warfare school takes global aim

The Times of India ^ | SATURDAY, MAY 01, 2004 05:00:53 AM | The Times of India

[AnIndianFromIndia]

NEW DELHI : The Army wants to go global now. No, it's not deploying troops overseas or setting up integrated theatre commands across different continents.

Instead, the Army is keen to make its specialised unconventional warfare schools into "centres of international excellence".

The Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School at Vairengte (Mizoram) is already attracting foreign armies - from the US , France , Russia , Kazakhstan , Tajikistan and Vietnam , among several others - in hordes to learn how to "fight the guerrilla like a guerrilla".

The Army now plans something similar for another unique institution - the High-Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Jammu and Kashmir .

"The recent Army Commanders' conference decided to make it a centre of excellence... We will offer its courses to the armies of friendly countries," said a senior officer of the Army HQ.

From a humble beginning as the 19 Infantry Division Ski School in 1948, the High-Altitude Warfare School has over the years become the Army's nodal agency for "specialised training and dissemination of doctrines" in high-altitude, mountain and snow warfare.

"Its facilities, with mountain warfare courses in Sonamarg area and snow-craft and winter warfare in Gulmarg area, are among the best in the world...we can teach most armies a thing or two about this kind of warfare," said an officer.

The High-Altitude Warfare School played an important role during the 1999 Kargil conflict by conducting crash courses for troops prior to their induction in the actual operations to dislodge Pakistani intruders from the icy heights.

Apart from the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in J&K, HAWS also actively participated in the 1965 and 1971 wars.

"It also trains troops for operations in the Siachen Glacier, the highest and coldest battlefield in the world," said the officer.

[AnIndianFromIndia]

I've been to this place...one of the best places for skiing on the planet...but for the fact that it happens to be around a battle zone until recently.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Just a guess...

I'd bet that any U.S, involvement was to monitor India's level of expertise and attendance.

Seems to me, a nation that has had 20-30 years of contested politics and warfare in the Cashmir has a bit to learn insurgency and high-altitude warfare itself.

But...who knows...might be something worth a few rupees.

[Leisler]

In the early 80’s the US army sent me to a private mountain climbing school/course in the Cascades, in Washington state. Paid for the best climbing equipment, etc. After, the equipment was put in a box at Ft. Bragg, and nada, nothing. I knew that outside of the Piedmont, we were screwed. That there was a serious amount of obscure, yet voluminous amount of landscape were we were baby/butt wiped . But, being enlisted, what did I know? The Indians and Pakistanis have been dukeing it out for 20 years at these altitudes. But again, I guess I haven’t gone to the right schools.