India to hold major tri-service exercise on western frontier

NEW DELHI: India is now conducting a major tri-Service combat exercise called "Trishul" on the western front with Pakistan, with a NOTAM (notice to airmen) issued for all aircraft to avoid a vast swathe of airspace along the border in Rajasthan and Gujarat from Oct 30 to Nov 10.

Pakistan, too, has issued a notification restricting multiple air traffic routes along its central and southern airspace, though somewhat away from the border, possibly for an exercise or weapons test on Oct 28-29. This muscle-flexing is reminiscent of the multiple NOTAMs issued by both countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor during which India conducted deep precision strikes against nine terror hubs as well as 11 airbases and radar sites from May 7 to 10.

A senior military officer told TOI that the ongoing wargames are "routine", in accordance with the practice to conduct a major tri-Service exercise at least once a year. The sheer scale, complexity and area of operations, however, is quite huge. "Multiple joint combat drills, both offensive and defensive in nature, will be executed during Trishul," an officer said. Moreover, the exercise comes soon after defence minister Rajnath Singh warned Pakistan about its recent military infrastructure build-up near the sensitive Sir Creek region, the 96-km-long tidal estuary between the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and the Sindh province of Pakistan, which is a major bilateral dispute.

"If Pakistan dares to act in the Sir Creek Sector, the reply will be so strong that it will change both history and geography," he had said.

The armed forces will conduct joint operations across diverse and challenging terrains, including offensive manoeuvres in the creek and desert sectors, amphibious operations off the Saurashtra coast, and joint multi-domain operational drills. The Army has deployed well over 20,000 soldiers with main-battle tanks, howitzers, armed helicopters and different kinds of missile systems. The IAF, in turn, will soon swing into action with 'Mahagujraj" high-tempo operations, with frontline fighters like Rafales and Sukhoi-30MKIs, special aircraft, helicopters, remotely-piloted aircraft and force-enablers like IL-78 mid-air refuellers and airborne early-warning and control aircraft being deployed from several air bases.

The Navy, too, has deployed some frigates and destroyers off the Gujarat coast for the intensive combat manoeuvres.