NSG to hold joint exercise with US comandos in November: NSG Director General

The National Security Guard (NSG) would soon conduct joint anti-terrorism exercise with the US commandos at its Manesar base camp in Haryana's Gurgaon to further hone their skills, NSG Director General R.C. Tayal said on Friday.

Addressing the media on the occasion of NSG's 31st Raising Day celebrations at Manesar, Tayal said the NSG commandos, popularly known as 'Black Cats', would hold the exercise with US counterparts in November.

The duration of the anti-terror practice has been decided and the exercise would be carried out on the ground, under water and in the air, he added.

He said the NSG has been conducting such joint practices with commandos from Germany, France, Israel, Australia, Thailand and Russia. The upcoming joint exercise with the United States troops is a part of this endeavour.

The NSG chief said it had been providing exclusive training to special forces of the Indian states as well.

Tayal said the NSG had also conducted a joint exercise 'Agnipariksha-1' with 'First Responder Force' of 10 states in the country. Following its success, the NSG would hold 'Agnipariksha-2'.

He said that a terror attack on a police station in Punjab's Gurdaspur district in July was successfully tackled by the First Responder Force of the state.

Pointing out that female commandos were equally talented, trained and qualified as their male counterparts, Tayal said though women commandos had not been deputed in the security of any dignitaries at present, they may be given responsibilities in counter-terrorism, anti-hijacking and VVIPs security duties in the future.

He said that movable NSG security cover has been provided to 15 dignitaries in the country at present.