In February, Egyptian Special Forces also conducted a joint exercise, Cyclone, at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan, from the 10th to the 23rd.The primary mission of Special Forces commandos is to swiftly eliminate high-value targets, both domestically and abroad, with precision and secrecy.These exercises are part of a larger plan to raise the Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD). Announced in 2018, the division’s formation began in 2019.Joint exercises within India are ongoing to develop common operational procedures. Given the sensitivity and significance of Special Forces operations, it will take time to reach the specialized level needed for complete integration.The three Special Forces—trained under different regimes and with different ethos—are working to refine their drills and capabilities. They are also identifying the future direction of training and integration to function as a seamless offensive formation.This integration process is crucial because, while there are various commonalities, differences still exist due to the specialized tasks and requirements of each service. It will take some time before full integration is achieved.The plan for the AFSOD is to initially have around 3,000 Special Forces commandos, based in Agra, which is already home to India’s only Parachute Brigade.
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