Situation still ‘live’ at the border, says IAF chief Arup Raha

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said on Tuesday that things are still live at the border, but refused to comment on the army’s surgical strikes across the LoC targeting terrorist bases.

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said on Tuesday that things are still ‘live’ at the border, but refused to comment on the army’s surgical strikes across the LoC targeting terrorist bases.

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha addresses the annual press conference ahead of Air Force Day function in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI)

The Indian Air Force has the powers to punish the country’s adversaries, he said, and added the government has to decide whether to use it.

The IAF chief also said he will not take any questions on the targeted operations across the LoC, or the de-facto border with Pakistan, as the “surgical strikes” were very sensitive in nature.

His comments came in the backdrop of New Delhi’s claims that it carried out the assault on militant shelters across the Line of Control in response to an attack on an Indian army garrison in Kashmir last month.

Since then, the two sides have exchanged heavy gunfire and shelling along their border. Militants also attacked another army base in Baramullah, Kashmir, late on Sunday night.