Exercise Tarkash

About Exercise Tarkash: 

• It is the seventh edition of the Indo-U.S. joint counter terrorism exercise.
• It is held between the elite National Security Guard (NSG) and the U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) commenced on April 22, 2024.
• The previous edition of the exercise was conducted at Chennai in January 2023.
• This exercise encompassed intense training and mock drills in urban counter terrorism scenarios. 
• Objective: The primary objective of the bilateral exercise is to build functional relation and enhance interoperability between the two special forces in conducting coordinated counter terror operations in urban counter terrorism contingencies.
• The exercise is also aimed at improving bilateral cooperation between India and the U.S. in matters relating to combating terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations,” a statement said.

The joint exercise also involved sharing of best practices, tactics, techniques and procedures, over a wide spectrum of counter terror operations, in urban environments including close quarter battle, building intervention drills and hostage rescue operations etc.

Q1:What is NSG?

National Security Guard is an elite force providing a second line of defence for the nation. The NSG members are also known as Black Cats because of the black drill cotton coveralls and balaclavas, or helmets, they wear.

Source: India-U.S. joint exercise to counter urban terrorism contingencies to conclude in Kolkata today