Situation still 'live' after surgical strikes: IAF chief

The situation is still "live" on the frontier with Pakistan after the Indian Army's surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control (LOC), the Indian Air Force chief said on Tuesday, but stressed that his force is fully capable of handling any eventuality, including a two-front war.

"Things are still live. Therefore, it will not be right for me to give you any perspective on it," said Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha at the annual Indian Air Force press conference ahead of the Air Force Day on October 8 as he declined to answer questions on last week's surgical strikes.

"This is a very sensitive issue. I would not like to comment on it."

Asked about the IAF's preparedness in case of a two-front war, Raha said: "The Air Force, Army, Navy are always ready and will always be ready."

"I think the capabilities of the armed forces are adequate to take up any challenge. We are not going to develop our capabilities vis-a-vis particular adversary or a country. We have the capability to deter our adversaries... if we have to use that capability in a conflict, we are ready. To my mind, we are ready for any eventuality," he said.

He added that while the IAF had "good capability", it could have been better had the acquisitions been on time.

"If the inductions and replacements were timely, I think Indian Air Force's capability, specially in terms of combat aircraft capability... as of now is good, but it could have been better (sic)," he said.

"I think all our procurement, specially acquisitions, have been more or less process driven and not outcome driven. There is a change of perception, procurement policy and processes are being amended it is outcome driven. I am very sure not only 36 Rafale aircraft is going to come in, but other projects which are on the table right now..." he added.

--IANS

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