The Hindu : Front Page : “PAF had deployed 75 p.c. of its units on Indian border”

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Monday, Jun 01, 2009
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“PAF had deployed 75 p.c. of its units on Indian border”

New Delhi: Pakistan deployed 75 per cent of its Air Force on its borders along with India after the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes, a top Indian Air Force official said on Sunday.

“Over the period of time after 26/11, we saw a gradual build-up of Pakistan Air Force [PAF] across the area of Western Air Command (WAC) area of responsibility, close to over 75 per cent,” IAF’s Vice Chief-Designate Air Marshal P.K. Barbora told reporters here.

He, however, added that the PAF had redeployed its units. “They have all gone back to their peacetime locations,” Mr. Barbora said.

Air Marshal Barbora said that Pakistan had deployed most of its air power on the border as it was aware of IAF’s capabilities and needed to “beef up” its air defences.

He added that the IAF did not “up the ante” during those times as it did not want to give any excuse to Pakistan for any misadventure.

Asked about the reasons behind Pakistan’s actions, he said, “How do you divert the nation’s attention when fingers were pointing to their country on 26/11.”

Replying to a query about India’s capabilities in terms of infrastructure vis-a-vis China in the northern sector, he said:

“We have improved our capability in Ladakh area with the activation of the Daulat Beg Oldie airfield and the Fuk Che ALGs (Advanced Landing Grounds). We are constructing another runway there. We also have Sukhois operating from Leh... and I am sure that the friends across the border must have seen our capability.”

Earlier in the day, after handing over charge of WAC, he said, “We have started operating our fighter and transport aircraft in the night from Udhampur and increased our night operations... because of this potential of ours, our ‘friends’ are quite worried.” — PTI

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