Without mentioning Pakistan and China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday lauded the Indian Air Force (IAF) saying its Balakot strike and the current combat readiness in Ladakh have sent a strong message to "adversaries".
Given the situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), he asked the IAF to be ready to handle any eventuality while alluding to the ongoing efforts for de-escalation at the border.
Incidentally, during his first visit to Leh last week since the face-offs began more than eight weeks back, Rajnath had sounded skeptical about the ongoing dialogue to defuse tension at the LAC. He said he said could not “guarantee” the outcome of the talks and urged the armed forces to be ever ready.
Addressing the IAF commanders’ conference on the opening day of the two-day event here on Wednesday, the defence minister also complimented the IAF for its rapid deployment of assets at forward locations in response to the border row with China in eastern Ladakh, saying its Balakot strike and the current combat readiness have sent a strong message to "adversaries".
He also said the nation's resolve to defend its sovereignty stands firm and that the people of the country have full confidence in the capability of its armed forces.
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said the IAF was well prepared to counter short term as well as strategic threats and the units were "evenly poised" to counter any aggressive action by the adversary.
He said the response by all commands in ensuring deployment and readiness of forces was prompt and laudable. He also emphasised on the need to focus on the ability to handle situations at a short notice for ensuring a robust response.
The two-day meet of the IAF top brass will review the current situation on the LAC and the Line of Control(LOC)facing Pakistan and the operational readiness to handle any threat. The IAF in the last few weeks has deployed its front line fighter jets in nearly all the forward airbases along the 4,000 km long LAC.
With the first four Rafale fighter jets arriving from France at the Ambala airbase on July 29, the commanders will also chalk out the integration programme of the French manufactured the Russian origin jets like the SU-30 and MIG-29.
In a demonstration of its aerial prowess, the IAF has been carrying out night time combat air patrols over the eastern Ladakh region in the last few weeks, in an apparent message to China that it was ready to deal with any eventualities in the mountainous region.
The IAF has deployed almost all its frontline fighter jets like Su-30, Jaguar and Mirage 2000 aircraft in key frontier air bases. The IAF has also deployed Apache attack helicopters as well as Chinook heavy-lift helicopters to transport troops to various forward locations. It has also pressed into service a fleet of C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft as well as C-130J Super Hercules in transporting heavy military equipment and weaponry to several forward bases in the region.