CIA-trained, IB-raised, now under RAW, SSF strives for place under the sun

Establishment-22’s involvement in the many conflicts, both overt and covert, had been kept secret. The acts of bravery were recognized only in closed circles and awards were handed over to the SFF soldiers in secret ceremonies organized at Rashtrapati Bhavan, writes Senior journalist Sanjib Kr Baruah.

New Delhi: For 58 years, it has remained a secretive specialist outfit operating in the shadows. But now, with the India-China open border hostility providing the catalyst, there is a clamour for ‘Establishment-22’ or the Special Frontier Force (SFF), to come out from the shadows.

The mid and late sixties was the time, just after the 1962 war with China, when Indian Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had the best of relations thanks to the close ties between India and the US. In due course, Soviet Russia became closer as the US and India drifted apart and US started showering favours on Pakistan.

Cut to 2020, it is almost as if the cycle has made a complete circle with India-US ties warming and an anti-China front taking shape. The call of duty for the about 5,000-strong SSF has become stronger.

Conceived and set up by the IB on November 14, 1962, trained and equipped by the CIA, the SSF, initially comprising mainly Khampa warriors from Tibet, had been trained keeping the China factor in mind.

Now under the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s external intelligence agency, the SFF’s core mandate remains the same—to operate behind Chinese frontiers.

SFF fighters have fought in a number of wars and conflicts on India’s side, both covert and overt, including ‘Operation Eagle’ (1971, Bangladesh War of Liberation), ‘Operation Bluestar’ (Golden Temple, 1984) ‘Operation Meghdoot’ (Siachen, 1984), ‘Operation Vijay’ (Kargil, 1999) and so on. Reports speak of it having trained guerillas in foreign shores too.

Their tales of gallantry in the many wars and operations stayed with them and went to the grave with the ones who passed away. The acts of bravery were recognized only in closed circles and awards were handed over to the SFF soldiers in secret ceremonies organized at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

But now, there is a rising clamour for recognition which the SFF richly deserves exemplified by the outpouring on social media.

What has sparked this recent need for recognition, pent up thus far, is the death of an SFF senior officer in the intervening night of August 29-30 when Indian troops are reported to have occupied a dominating ridge in the south bank of the Pangong Tso.

According to Tibetan media reports, a 53-year old company leader-ranked SFF officer Nyima Tenzin died during ‘operations’ on the southern bank of the Pangong lake that night while a 24-year-old soldier was injured.

While there has been no Indian military official response to thus far, netizens, including Tibetans, have taken to social media.

Says Tenzin Namgyal with the twitter handle @Tenam108: “He gave his life for #India, out of Love for #Tibet.”

The ‘Tibetan Journal’ tweeted: “Indian Army’s 7 Vikas company leader Nyima Tenzin’s body wrapped in Indian and Tibetan national flags after sacrificing his life for the country.”

Another tweet by @swapy6 says: “Wrapped in 2 flags, SFF Commando #NyimaTenzin had the rare honor of supreme sacrifice for 2 motherlands. This Tibetan was defending India past 33yrs. Despite meagre media coverage I hope Gov is paying him all due respect & supporting his family as they do to all our soldiers.”

What began as a motley group of warriors with the aim of acquiring fighting for Tibetan rights is now a deadly professional outfit of well-equipped fighters specializing in high altitude mountain warfare and specialist parachutists.

A serving army officer who trained at the SFF’s main base in Chakrata told ETV Bharat on condition of not being named: “Their training is China-centric. Indian Army officers only with commando experience are posted with the SFF. The SFF do not openly wear their uniforms, nor do they talk about which outfit they represent.”

“They are devoted to the Dalai Lama whose photographs adorn their vehicles, officer rooms and residential quarters. There is Tibetan chanting music everywhere one goes in the base.”

But there are voices who believe that SFF should remain to be a secret force.

Claude Arpi, renowned Tibetologist, told ETV Bharat: “If Tibetans are emotional about it that is another issue and it is quite normal especially after the loss of life. But special forces are secret all over the world. We know little about the commandos of the force that conducted the surgical strikes. So SFF should remain in the shadows.”