As reported in the media earlier this month, Indian and US militaries will be conducting another round of joint exercises, this time in Belgaum.

Indian Army sources said on October 6 that the joint military exercise, code named ‘Shatrujeet’, will be held in an urban/semi-urban setting between October 25 and November 3. This time the exercises are reported to be focusing on tackling suicide terrorism and “human bomb philosophy” in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency. This will be the second time within two months that the Indian and US armies will be conducting joint exercises. In September, 2006 the Indian and US armies held three week long joint military exercises at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, termed Yudh Abhyas (training for war).

Army sources have revealed that Echo Company of the second battalion 4th Marines of the US Marines is expected to be sending 160 soldiers for the exercise with a rifle company of the Indian Army’s Punjab regiment. It may be noted that this same unit of the US armed forces had earned notoriety for its activities in Ramadi in Iraq in 2004. It has been reported by major newspapers that in operation ‘Shatrujeet’, “the soldiers will participate in the bilateral exercise on confidence and survival training, combat shooting, rock climbing, security of operating bases, astral navigation, unarmed combat, room training, detecting and neutralising improvised explosive devices, intercommunication and radio telephony procedures....on evolving joint drills on establishment of outer and inner cordons, human rights in counter-terrorism operations and ambush/counter-ambush action”. In fact, Army Headquarters has now openly declared that operation ‘Shatrujeet’ is expected to “enhance interoperability at the functional level”, terms that they have earlier been cautious not to use with reference to joint military exercises with the US, for fear of popular opposition.

These joint military exercises have to be seen in the context of the Indo-US strategic alliance. As is clear from the above revelations, the real content of this strategic alliance is that the Indian big bourgeoisie will closely coordinate with the US imperialists to suppress by brute military might the aspirations of the people of our country, of this region and other parts of the world, for sovereignty and a system free from exploitation and oppression. This will be done using the slogan of “war against terrorism”, with terrorist massacres of innocent people being organized frequently in an attempt to create public opinion justifying the alliance.

The US military is one of the most detested forces in the world; hated for their ruthless killing and torture of freedom–loving people throughout the globe. The Indian bourgeoisie has no qualms about allying its military closely with this loathsome force in pursuit of its own selfish aims. The Indian big bourgeoisie hopes through this alliance to advance its own imperialist ambitions in this region and in the world. All anti-imperialist forces in India have to come together to vigorously oppose this alliance, which is completely against the interests of peace and sovereignty of nations and peoples.