India decides against reactivating Chushul airfield

New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) India has shelved plans to
reactivate the Chushul airfield in the northern Indian region
of Ladakh close to the Line of Actual Control, apprehending
Chinese objections.
The Indian Air Force, however, is going to revive
several other Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in a phased
manner as part of its efforts to beef up capabilities along
the boundary with China, IAF sources told PTI here.
"In China's version of the border and our version of
the border, there is a clash on Chushul. The government did
not want us make any move there. So, we are not working on
such controversial projects," they said.
Located close to the LAC with China at a height of
over 13,000 feet, the Chushul Valley in Ladakh has an
airstrip, which was a key platform during the Sino-Indian War
in 1962 but has not been in use since then.
It was part of IAF's original plans to develop ALGs
along the India-China border as part of its efforts to
strengthen the defence in these areas and support Army
operations in the rugged terrain.
The IAF has already developed a number of ALGs in the
northeast and the Ladakh sector, including Daulat Beg Oldie
(DBO), Fuk Che and Nyoma for aircraft operations.
Sources said a number of new ALGs would be opened by
the IAF in the coming years in these areas and many of them
would be upgraded for heavier aircraft operations.
"Such ALGs will help support our forward area policy.
With helipads, say we can support only 200 troops there but
with a runway, we can land supplies for over a thousand troops
there," a source said.