The month-long ‘Ram Prahar’ exercise, involving 20,000 soldiers, simulated offensive operations across the Pakistan border in Punjab (ANI photo)

DEHRADUN: In a significant show of combat readiness, Indian Army‘s Western Command carried out a month-long integrated ground and air drill involving over 20,000 personnel, simulating offensive operations across the Pakistan border in Punjab. The exercise, which was first of its kind held in Uttarakhand by the Army, concluded near Haridwar on Saturday and was held in terrain mimicking the riverside plains of Punjab.The ‘Ram Prahar’ exercise was conducted by the Ram division of the Kharga Corps under Western Command. Though the location operationally falls under Central Command, army officials said it was chosen due to geographical similarities with the Punjab sector. The exercise included fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, Apache attack helicopters, amphibious armoured vehicles, tanks, drone-based surveillance, and night-time paratrooper deployment.General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Command, Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, who inspected and validated the final phase of the drill, said it focused on rehearsing responses to major provocations by Pakistan. “In the recent Operation Sindoor, we delivered a robust response, which resulted in extensive damage to Pakistani forces. But we doubt whether it has learnt any lesson. If there is another mischief by it, we are prepared to respond with far greater force, including entering Pakistan from Punjab,” he said. He added that the location was selected as it allowed simulation of riverine obstacles similar to those found in Punjab. “We conduct exercises in operational areas under other commands too to ensure readiness,” he said. A senior Army officer involved in the exercise told TOI, requesting anonymity, that the drill tested operational agility, multi-domain capabilities and real-time coordination across land, air and cyber domains.Lt Gen Mohan Bhandari (retired), former deputy director general of military operations during the Kargil war, told TOI the drill was vital to test preparedness for the Punjab sector. “Pakistan has constructed numerous canals in Punjab to act as barriers against our armoured and mechanised units. Exercises simulating such conditions enhance operational efficiency because ultimate victory comes under the boots of infantry on enemy land,” said Lt Gen Bhandari (retired)who conducted similar drills during his time in Western Command.