NEW DELHI: As the political slugfest continues over the Army’s cross-border surgical strikes, Indian Air Force Chief chief Arup Raha on Saturday made it clear that the “armed forces will not talk, just deliver.”
“Armed forces are supposed to deliver the result that the nation expects. We are not going to talk about it, we will just deliver,” Air Chief Marshal Raha said on the occasion of the 84th Air Force Day. Making a strong observation that there is increasing turbulence in the global and regional security environment, Raha said terrorist attacks in Pathankot and Uri indicated “the troubled times we are living in”.
“The world today is in a flux and threats are no longer easy to identify. The terrorist attacks on Pathankot Air base and Uri Army base are stark reminders of the troubled times we are living in,” Raha said.
Raha asserted that the armed forces were prepared to give a befitting reply to sub-conventional threats and any other challenge facing the country.
“To counter sub conventional threat, several new security measures have been instituted including new courses being conducted with increased security training, consciousness, physical fitness and combat efficiency of the personnel,” Raha said in his address.
“The armed forces are well prepared to take on any sub-conventional threat. We have had one or two cases… a determined terrorist can always get the better of people, but the aim is to prevent it… the deterrence. We should be able to detect any such attack right in the beginning so that we can neutralise them (terrorists) before they cause any damage,” Raha added.
IAF on Saturday launched its Facebook and Twitter accounts. In his first message on official Facebook page ‘Indian Air Force, Power to Punish’, the Air Force chief said the force is operating some of the most modern weapons and equipment and the air warriors exercise ceaseless vigil of skies. The Air Force Day is celebrated to commemorate the day the force was officially established — October 8, 1932. Indigenous Tejas fighters performed stunts for the first time at the air show at Hindon air base.