Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force Air Marshal VR Chaudhari, who was recently appointed as the IAF chief, on Tuesday said that China has deployed its air force in three bases across eastern Ladakh. His statement comes three days after Army Chief Gen MM Naravane sounded an alert on China deploying troops “considerable numbers” across all eastern Ladakh and northern front.
Talking about China-Pakistan partnership and possibility of a two-front war, Chaudhari said, “There is nothing to fear from this partnership. But the only worry is western technology passing from Pakistan to China.”
He also assured that airfields in Pakistan and PoK were not a cause of worry. “We don’t need to be much alarmed by airfields in Pakistan and PoK as they are small strips capable of taking on a few helicopters. The one towards the Afghan border is probably for rescuing their own people from Afghanistan,” the IAF chief said.
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Naravane had on Saturday said, “Chinese have deployed in considerable numbers all across Eastern Ladakh and Northern front right up to our Eastern command. Definitely, there has been an increase in their deployment in the forward areas which remains a matter of concern for us.”
Several reports had recently quoted sources as saying that China has put in place new modular container-based accommodations for its troops in several high-altitude forward areas on its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh in response to Indian deployment in the region. The shelters were installed in locations near Tashigong, Manza, Hot Springs and Churup among others, in reflection of simmering tensions between the two sides in the region, they said.
The Chinese side has significantly ramped up infrastructure development along the LAC in the sector. India has been maintaining a strict vigil along the nearly 3,500-km LAC following the eastern Ladakh standoff.
‘IAF Fully Committed To Theaterisation’
Chaudhari said that the IAF is fully committed to the theaterisation concept to best utilise India’s military resources but at the same time stressed that the new model should reflect the strengths and requirements of each service. He said the IAF is fully prepared to deal with any security challenge in eastern Ladakh and that new airbases and other infrastructure created by the Chinese side in the region will not affect his force’s combat readiness.
Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said the IAF should have around 35 fighter squadrons by the next decade as he talked about the phasing out of old aircraft and induction of new ones. He said there are four MiG-21 squadrons and the plan is to retire them in the next three to four years.
Asked about security threats emanating from close ties between Islamabad and Beijing, he said there was nothing to worry about the partnership, but flagged concerns over the possibility of western technology reaching China from Pakistan. Assuring the nation that the IAF will be ever ready to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty and interests in all circumstances, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said his force is effectively capable of dealing with a “two-front” war scenario involving China and Pakistan.
(With PTI inputs)
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