Indian troops fighting a debilitating high altitude war against seperatists in Kashmir have been shocked by the intruders superior weaponary and relatively luxurious rations. "They have biscuits and choclates and even British cigarettes," said Brig. Amar Aul, India's military commander for the battle zone of drass. Aul said the rations had been found frequently in mountain top bunkers and camps captured from the fighters in Indian assaults.
Indian front line troops carry composite rations comprising pre cooked bland food that often freezes at high altitude. "Soldiers here often go hungry or thirsty as the food freezes solid and the snow on the peaks is laced with cordite from exploded shells so cannot be melted for water," a soldier said. "We love to eat and drink Pakistani rations whenever we find them" he said, showing a pack of low nicotine Rothmans cigarettes and a packet of cream biscuits he had brought down from a recaptured peak.
Indian soldiers also complain that while their suiting is unsuited for mountain warfare, the seperatists have thermal suits and the same tents that are used by top mountaineers.
"Some of the peaks are under several feet of snow and it's a tough task getting along on foot" said a lieutenant colonel from the Rajasthan Rifles. "On the other hand, the Pakistanis have snowmobiles, expensive skis, fur lined gloves and snow goggles," he said. Military physician Maj. A.R. Basu said an initial lack of specialized equipment had resulted in numerous cases of frostbite and snow blindness among Indian soldiers during the early part of the offensive. "Now the soldiers are getting some stuff for high altitude conditions," Basu said.
Former Indian army chief Vishwanath Sharma said official indifference was to blame for the shoddy equipment supplied to troops fighting at high altitudes. "How can our personnel fight when they are not given proper boots for this kind of terrain," Sharma said. A government attempt to import 50,000 pairs of snow boots last month proved futile as none of the overseas dealers of specialized military products held such large stocks.
Soldiers also say a new 5.56mm carbine recently issued does not carry the punch of the AK-56 and other rifles used by the infiltrators. "We often use weapons and ammunition captured from the enemy because some of them are really top of the shelf," said one major of an elite paratrooper brigade. (AFP)
Indian front line troops carry composite rations comprising pre cooked bland food that often freezes at high altitude. "Soldiers here often go hungry or thirsty as the food freezes solid and the snow on the peaks is laced with cordite from exploded shells so cannot be melted for water," a soldier said. "We love to eat and drink Pakistani rations whenever we find them" he said, showing a pack of low nicotine Rothmans cigarettes and a packet of cream biscuits he had brought down from a recaptured peak.
Indian soldiers also complain that while their suiting is unsuited for mountain warfare, the seperatists have thermal suits and the same tents that are used by top mountaineers.
"Some of the peaks are under several feet of snow and it's a tough task getting along on foot" said a lieutenant colonel from the Rajasthan Rifles. "On the other hand, the Pakistanis have snowmobiles, expensive skis, fur lined gloves and snow goggles," he said. Military physician Maj. A.R. Basu said an initial lack of specialized equipment had resulted in numerous cases of frostbite and snow blindness among Indian soldiers during the early part of the offensive. "Now the soldiers are getting some stuff for high altitude conditions," Basu said.
Former Indian army chief Vishwanath Sharma said official indifference was to blame for the shoddy equipment supplied to troops fighting at high altitudes. "How can our personnel fight when they are not given proper boots for this kind of terrain," Sharma said. A government attempt to import 50,000 pairs of snow boots last month proved futile as none of the overseas dealers of specialized military products held such large stocks.
Soldiers also say a new 5.56mm carbine recently issued does not carry the punch of the AK-56 and other rifles used by the infiltrators. "We often use weapons and ammunition captured from the enemy because some of them are really top of the shelf," said one major of an elite paratrooper brigade. (AFP)
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