Forces will not talk, just deliver: Air Force chief
8 Oct 2016 4:33 PM GMT
The Air Chief Marshal said that the armed forces "are there to deliver and they are doing the job" as he refused to comment on the political slugfest over the cross-LoC surgical strikes on terror camps.
His remarks came on a day when the Indian Air Force celebrated its 84th Foundation Day with a spectacular air display at Air Force Station Hindon in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district, 30 kms from here.
For the first time, India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft performed stunts at the air show, amid loud cheers from the audience.
In his customary address at the celebrations, Raha said, "World is in a flux today. Terrorists attacks in Uri and Pathankot show the troubled times we live today."Â
In his message on official Facebook page of the IAF Indian Air Force, Power to Punish launched today, the Air Force chief said the force is operating some of the most modern weapons and equipments and the air warriors exercise ceaseless vigil of skies.
"We continue to train to take up any threat and are fully prepared to undertake any challenge in most befitting manner," Raha said.
Asked later about increasing threat from Pakistan, he said the armed forces are well prepared to take on any sub- conventional threats.
Sub-conventional threats refers to proxy war that Pakistan indulges in against India through the use of terrorists.
Raha said that terrorists can always get better but the armed forces can neutralise them.
"With each incident, the forces are getting smarter and learning new lessons." he said.
Replying to a query on the political war of words over the surgical strike, Raha said "the armed forces are there to deliver and they are doing the job".
In his speech at the Air Force Day function earlier, Raha mentioned both Pathankot and Uri attacks in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir respectively.
"Terrorist attacks at the Uri (army camp) and Pathankot (IAF) base show the troubled times we are living in," Raha said.
Asked to comment on the issue later, the Air Force chief said India is learning lessons every time something happens.
"We are getting smarter and smarter; we are learning lessons every time something happens. I think we are very well prepared now to face any such contingency," he said.
"The armed forces are well prepared to take on any sub-conventional threat. We have had one or two cases... a determined terrorist can always get the better of people but the aim is to prevent it... the deterrence. We should be able to detect any such attack right in the beginning so that we can neutralise them (terrorists) before they cause any damage," the IAF chief said.
Raha, in his speech, said that India is being seen as a "net security provider" in the Indian Ocean region.
The Air Force Day commemorates the establishment of the armed force on October 8, 1932.
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