‘ IAF alive to emerging threats in Indo- Pacific’

Modernisation rate in neighbourhood a concern: Dhanoa

The Indian Air Force is “very much alive” to emerging threats that could arise in the Indo Pacific region, Air Chief Marshal B. S. Dhanoa said on Sunday, and asserted that his force was prepared to deal with any challenge to protect India’s national interests.

He also said there is cause for concern over the rate of modernisation and induction of new equipment in India’s neighbourhood, even as India faces challenges emanating from “unresolved territorial disputes” and “sponsored” non- state and transnational actors. But the IAF is capable of, and is moving ahead, for countering them effectively, he told PTI in an interview.

Asked whether the IAF can play a role in smashing terrorist training camps across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, he did not rule out such a possibility.

“The IAF is well equipped to take on threats which occur from across the border, be it in the realm of sub conventional or other domains,” the Air Chief Marshal said.

Referring to India’s immediate security challenges, without naming China and Pakistan, he said, “The current challenges emanate from unresolved territorial issues, sponsored non- state actors and transnational actors who act against national interests through the global commons.”

“The IAF is prepared 24x7 for any threat and is ready for a befitting response to any contingency with all our available assets,” he told PTI.

Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa also made an indirect reference to China’s rapid modernisation of its air force and also about the infrastructure development Beijing

has carried out in the Tibet Autonomous Region ( TAR) bordering India.

“The IAF is well equipped to take on challenges across the entire range of threats that could emanate across our borders. While there is a cause for concern as regards to the rate of modernisation and induction of new equipment in our neighbourhood, the IAF is nevertheless, moving ahead with appropriate measures to cater to these new developments,” he said.

Asked whether the IAF was capable of playing a role to expand India’s geopolitical influence in the Indo- Pacific region, he replied in the affirmative and talked about IAF’s capabilities, including having the second largest fleet of C- 17s.

“We have the second largest fleet of C- 17s in the world. Therefore, India will pull its heft in helping out friendly nations in times of human distress and humanitarian relief. In addition, the IAF is very much alive to the emerging threats that could arise in the IndoPacific region,” he said.

The IAF is well equipped to take on threats which occur from across the border, be it in the realm of sub conventional or other domains — B. S. Dhanoa, Air Force chief