China, Pakistan attaches not invited to IAF exercise

The defence attaches of Pakistan and China have not been invited to the Indian Air Force's power demonstration exercise Iron Fist, the IAF said on Thursday.

"We have invited defence attaches but not those of Pakistan and China," Vice Chief of IAF Air Marshal B.S. Dhanoa said on Thursday.

He said this was a "collective decision of MEA (ministry of external affairs) and MOD (ministry of defence)" to leave out the defence attaches of the two countries from the mega exercise.

The Iron Fist exercise will display the IAF's capability of day and night operations and will be attended by President Pranab Mukherjee.

 

The exercise will be conducted at Pokhran in the Thar desert and will see the participation of 181 aircraft of the IAF, 103 being fighter jets.