Ready to counter any situation at LAC in Ladakh, says IAF chief

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 20

Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshall RKS Bhadauria on Saturday morning said the IAF was full prepared to counter any situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

He was speaking after reviewing the combined passing-out parade of officers at the IAF academy in Dundigal, 40 km from Hyderabad.

Also read: Sukhois, tanks stacked up along LAC

China, the IAF Chief said, had breached all existing agreements at LAC. “All efforts are underway that the current situation is resolved peacefully. We are well prepared and suitably deployed to counter any situation,” he said.

Also read: After Modi says no incursions, China claims Galwan Valley

Also read: Will govt reject Chinese claim to Galwan Valley, asks Chidambaram

Referring to the death of 20 Indian Army soldiers in the Galwan Valley clash on the night intervening June 15-16, he said, “We are determined that we will not let the sacrifice of the Galwan braveshearts go in vain.”

During his speech, the IAF Chief said, “I salute the act of Col Santosh Babu and his men in defending the LAC. It shows our resolve.”

To  the passing-out officers he said there would be no  break (as was the norm after passing out). “You will soon have to join the frontline units”. The developments along the LAC in Ladakh were a snapshot of what could be required to be done at short notice, he advised the newly commissioned officers.

The Tribune has reported in its edition dated June 20 that the IAF has deployed the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets, the Apache attack helicopters among other assets to defend the 826 km of LAC in Ladakh.