The Syrian government has begun moving sensitive equipment and materials for its weapons programs to Sudan, fearing surgical strikes by U.S. and allied forces. The movement was detected by U.S. intelligence agencies over the past several weeks and is another sign that governments labeled state sponsors of terrorism are worried by the expanding U.S.-led campaign against international terrorism. The exact nature of the equipment was not identified but U.S. officials said it was related to Damascus’ military hardware. The governments of Syria and Sudan voiced support for U.S. counterterrorism operations in late September. According to the CIA, Syria has large stockpiles of chemical weapons and is building a solid-propellant rocket motor factory and plans to build its own Scud-C missiles. It also has purchased advanced conventional arms, primarily from Russia, including anti-tank guided missiles. Two other states on the United States’ terrorism list, Iran and Iraq, also have taken precautions with their military forces since October because of fears of U.S. attack.

INDIAN ARMY PRACTICES FOR NUCLEAR WARFARE

Indian military forces have carried out military exercises that indicate they are preparing for a nuclear conflict with Pakistan. U.S. officials said wargames dubbed “Operation Parakrama” were detected in the Rajasthan desert last week and include training and equipping ground forces for fighting in nuclear, biological and chemical warfare. It is the second exercise of its type in two years. Last year, similar maneuvers were conducted. In another sign of war preparations, India’s Telegraph newspaper reported on Dec. 31 that Indian military forces have begun calculating war “wastage reserves” — the amount of ammunition and weapons needed for a conflict. The assessment is based on previous conflict, including the 16-day India-Pakistan war of 1971. Pakistan, meanwhile, has moved its fighter bombers to areas along the Indian border, where tensions are extremely high over a Dec. 13 terrorist attack on the Indian parliament that Indian government officials say was carried out with Pakistani help. U.S. officials said more than one third of Pakistan’s 469 strike aircraft, including U.S. F-16s, Chinese F-7s and French Mirage 3 have been deployed near the Kashmir border.