The Andaman and Nicobar Command of the Indian Armed Forces is based at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory of India. It was created to safeguard India's strategic interests in Southeast Asia and the Strait of Malacca.
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Previously there was a consideration to replace Fortress Commander, Andaman and Nicobar Islands (FORTAN) with a Far Eastern Naval Command (FENC). The previous plan to set up FENC was set in motion in 1995 following a closed-door meeting in Washington between then Indian prime minister, P V Narasimha Rao, and then US president, Bill Clinton. At the time, Pentagon officials made a formal request to the United Front coalition government in New Delhi to open a base in the islands.[1]
The 750-km long Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago is located about 1200 km from the mainland, but is merely 90 km from Indonesia and 50 km from Myanmar. An Indian command in the islands would counter any threat from China, which was reported to have set up surveillance posts in Myanmar's Coco Islands, 40 km off the northern tip of the Andamans.[2] An Indian armed forces' command at Andaman and Nicobar Islands would help in to prevent smuggling, piracy, drug and gun trafficking, poaching and illegal immigration in the region and especially in the Malacca Strait. The A&NC would also be in a position to assist the multinational Malacca Straits Security Initiative, aimed at curbing threats in the Malacca Straits.
The Group of Ministers' (GoM) report on Reforming the National Security System recommended the replacement of the FORTAN, under the Indian Navy, with a Joint Andaman and Nicobar Command which will control the assets of the tri-services and the Coast Guard on the islands. The GoM had recommended that the Commander of this Joint Command would report to the proposed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The Andaman and Nicobar Command was in place by the end of September 2001.
The Andaman and Nicobar Command is commanded by 3-star commissioned officer (rank of Lieutenant General of the Indian Army or equivalent) who reports directly to CISC (Chief of Integrated Services Command) in New Delhi.[3]
The 108 Infantry Brigade of the Indian Army, which in turn includes the 21 Bihar, is deployed to the A&N Command.[4]
Naval vessels under the command may include Trinkat Class fast patrol vessels, Mk.3 LCU vessels, Polnochny-C/D Class amphibious warfare vessels and the SDB Mk.3 large patrol craft.[5] Do-228-101 maritime patrol craft, operating from airfields at Port Blair, Car Nicobar, Campbell Bay and Diglipur maintain surveillance over the sea areas and approaches.
The Andaman & Nicobar region of the Indian Coast Guard also falls under the purview of the A&N Command.