Thursday, February 16, 2012

Indian soldiers’ adaptability to Chinese environment being tested

New Delhi, July 8: Fighting China on its own turf! Sounds farfetched?  But that is what Indian military scientists are in the Central Asian country bordering China-Kyrgyzstan. They are testing the stamina of Indian soldiers in conditions similar to that of Chinese Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) that shares border with India’s Ladakh region and Kyrgyzstan.
 
Twenty-Five Indian soldiers have been flown to Kyrgyzstan where their adaptability to high altitude, dry and low on oxygen climate will be gauged by the scientists from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The research will be carried out at Kyrgyz-Indian Mountain Biomedical Research Centre, inaugurated by defence minister AK Antony on his recent visit to the country.  

“DRDO has already been conducting research on high-altitude base agriculture, plantation, animal husbandry, poultry and food processing. This will be a good opportunity that could help us understand a probable battle environment and plan our line of action if the need be,” government sources said.

A record of the physical and biological parameters of the soldiers will be maintained while conducting during different physical activities like running, climbing and so on.

The project has been jointly set up by DRDO and the Kyrgyz National Centre for Cardiology and Internal Medicine at the cost of Rs. 6 crore.   Senior scientists like DRDO Chief Dr. VK Saraswat and Chief Controller also accompanied the defence minister to the opening of the centre.

TAR is a plateau and is also known as the “Roof of the World”. Sharing border with the Ladakh region, TAR is situated at a height of over 4,000 metres above the sea level. The climate is marked with low temperatures, less rainfall, thin atmosphere, long hours of sunshine and intense solar radiation.

Kyrgyzstan and TAR has similar climate. The move is also seen among the experts as India’s way to counter Chinese ‘String of Pearls’ strategy to encircle India.

“Central Asian countries are important for us for geo-strategic reasons. China is moving fast to expand its sphere of influence,” the sources added. India has now started to focus on building up ties based on its soft power.

India, which happens to be the largest contributor of troops to the UN peacekeeping missions, will also train Kyrgyzstan forces in the operations.

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