We are closely monitoring the Pak situation: IAF Chief

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major said on Monday that his force is closely monitoring the developments in neighbouring Pakistan to make sure that there won’t be any “side effects” to India. The IAF chief was at the Eastern Air Command Headquarters, Shillong, to inaugurate a two-day Commanders’ Conference.

Dubbing the political unrest in Pakistan as “internal affairs” of the neighbouring country, Major told reporters that the IAF is closely “watching the situation” to make sure that the fallout doesn’t spill over to the Indian skies. Commenting on the IAF capabilities, he said the “Indian Air Force is a potent force with transcontinental reach”.About the reported “intrusion of China” into Indian territory, Major stated that “intrusion” is a wrong word to use because of the difference in perception about the International Boundary. However, the so-called intrusion is minimal and not really a “threat” as such. He also informed that some Sukhoi fighter aircraft will be kept under Eastern Air Command to make sure that the skies in the Northeast are safe.

Major said that the proposed Aerospace Command is on a fast-track. “The Command is crucial for air dominance and we are vigorously pursuing the matter”. Once the Aerospace Command is created, the strategic reach of the country would extend beyond the confines of the globe.