'Disengagement has taken place in certain areas in Ladakh but...': IAF chief on border standoff

New Delhi, Dec 18: Speaking on the India-China border standoff, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said that disengagement has taken place in certain areas in Ladakh but complete disengagement with Beijing has not taken place. He also added that India is continuously evaluating threats from Pakistan and China.

 

"We are continuously evaluating threats from Pakistan and China and are very well aware of it. The stand-off with China does continue, disengagement has taken place in certain areas in Ladakh but complete disengagement has not taken place. The Air Force will continue to maintain deployment. We are prepared to take on any challenge that we may face in that area," the IAF chief said while delivering his address at the Combined Graduation Parade at the Air force Academy at Dundigal near Hyderabad.

 

 

India and China held the 23rd meeting of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) in November. The sides discussed the situation in eastern Ladakh. "The two sides had candid and in-depth discussions on the situation along the LAC in Western Sector of India-China Border Areas and also reviewed the developments since the last meeting of the Senior Commanders of both sides which was held on October 10, 2021," External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

 

 

It said that the two sides recalled the agreement between the External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Minister of China during their meeting in September in Dushanbe that military and diplomatic officials of the two sides should continue their discussions to resolve the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.

 

 

Besides, in his address, IAF chief also said the Air Force is on the cusp of transformation into a highly potent air force with many new injections such as Rafale jets and a variety of sophisticated systems. He lauded the cadets at the Combined Graduation Parade at Air Force Academy, Dundigal in Telangana, and said that the high standards displayed by them will form the basis of safe and effective operations in the future.

 

The Air Chief also expressed grief over the demise of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhjulika Rawat and 12 armed forces personnel who lost their lives in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu's Coonoor. "I express my heartfelt grief and sorrow on the demise of CDS Bipin Rawat, Madhulika Rawat and 12 armed forces personnel," said the Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Telangana during the Combined Graduation Parade, Autumn Term 2021.

 

 

Further, he said that the VVIP protocals will be revised and reviwed after the IAF helicopter crash. "The VVIP protocols to fly will be revised and reviewed. All these procedures will be reviewed based on the findings of the enquiry."