Indo-US exercise TARKASH

Tags: National Defence National News

The 6th edition of joint exercise Tarkash was recently concluded in Chennai by the National Security Guard (NSG) and the US Special Operations Force (SOF).

About Exercise TARKASH

• This is the sixth edition of the exercise which began on 16 January and ended on 14 February.

• It is a joint exercise by the National Security Guard (NSG) and US Special Operations Forces (SOF).

• “Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Terror Response” has been included in this exercise for the first time.

• An exercise to deal with chemical and biological attacks by terrorists was also included in the exercise.

• Chemical and biological attacks have been made part of the exercise in the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war.

• Last year, Russia accuses Ukraine of receiving aid from Western countries and of carrying out a chemical attack in Kharkiv.

Objectives of the Exercise

• The objective of the exercise is to neutralize the terrorists, safe release of hostages and neutralization of chemical weapons being carried by the terrorists.

Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Weapons

• These weapons are classified as weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

• In the past these weapons have been used by states and terrorist groups.

• The most recent use of CBRN was in the form of a sarin gas attack in Syria in 2017 that killed over 100 people.

• These weapons are a serious threat to international peace and security.

Chemical, Biological and Radiological weapons

• Chemical weapons include mustard gas and nerve agents.

• Biological agents like anthrax, botulinum toxin and plague are some examples of biochemical weapons.

• Radiological weapons include weaponised radioactive waste and dirty bombs as well as nuclear weapons.