India launches ‘Snow Leopard’ unit, belies Modi regime’s normalcy mantra in IIOJK
Srinagar: In another move to escalate militarisation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, India has launched a newly formed elite high-altitude combat unit named “Snow Leopard”, aimed at conducting operations in snow-bound and mountainous areas of the territory.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Indian police unveiled the specialised squad, comprising over 100 personnel, to operate in extreme weather and rugged terrain. The move comes amid New Delhi’s repeated claims of “normalcy” in the occupied territory, which observers say stand contradicted by the continued expansion of combat formations.
Official details reveal that the squad has been deployed for the first time during the ongoing Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg.
The Snow Leopard squad primarily consists of personnel drawn from the Special Operations Group (SOG). It functions as a dedicated wing for snow and mountain warfare, trained to operate in sub-zero temperatures reaching minus 20 degrees Celsius, low-oxygen environments, dense forests and avalanche-prone areas.
Officials said the squad underwent more than six months of specialised training alongside Indian Army Para Commandos and Greyhounds Special Forces to enhance combat readiness and coordination.
Observers maintain that the creation of such combat units belies the Modi regime’s repeated assertions that peace and stability have returned to the territory following the revocation of its special status in August 2019. Instead, they say, the move signals sustained military expansion and institutional preparedness for prolonged conflict in the territory.
