The Hindu : National : No move to shift venue of joint exercises: IAF

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 13, 2006

National

National

No move to shift venue of joint exercises: IAF

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Despite the massive demonstration outside the Kalaikunda air force base in West Bengal during the joint Indo-U.S. air exercises in November last year, there is no move to shift the venue for similar multinational joint exercises, said Indian Air Force (IAF) officials while noting the absence of protestors when American made F-16s of the Singapore Air Force took part in exercises with IAF fighters earlier this month. Kalaikunda is the second Indian air base with facilities for supporting joint exercises with air forces of advanced countries. Its inauguration ran into a political problem with the Left parties holding a peaceful demonstration to coincide with the joint exercises with the U.S. air force. Though they were taken by "surprise," officials noted the absence of any threat of a confrontation during the demonstrations.

The officials pointed out that the weather around Kalaikunda generally remained excellent throughout the year but for a brief spell of thunderstorms during February-March. In addition, there was little civilian air activity in the area as opposed to heavy passenger air traffic around most of the bases in other parts of India. These two factors made Kalaikunda an excellent place for hosting air forces of "friendly countries."

The need to develop Kalaikunda to international levels was approved by the previous government and implemented over the past one year. The IAF felt the need to develop a second air base for joint exercises after India stepped up its participation with other militaries.

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