NEW DELHI: The Indian army managed to take control of the strategic heigh on the southern bank of Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh thanks to Vikas Batallion or the Special Frontier Force (SFF) which is also known as 'Establishment 22'. The battalion, which mainly comprises Tibetans, played a key role in observing the movements of the Chinese troops and thwarting any occupation on the line of LAC.

It was the defeat against China in 1962 that encouraged India to form a special force comprising Tibetans. The Tibetans had sought refugee in India along with Dalai Lama in 1959. Named Establishment 22, the force excelled even in the midst of steep mountain ranges and extremely cold weather. In the first stage, the Tibetans were trained by the USA's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), India's Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

The SFF is directly controlled by the Prime Minister's Office and the Cabinet Secretary. It does not have any connections with other forces.