IAF upgrading six airstrips in Arunachal Pradesh: Naik

New Delhi, Oct 1 (PTI) The Indian Air Force (IAF) is
upgrading six airstrips in Arunachal Pradesh bordering China
to improve its capabilities to move troops there quickly, Air
Chief Marshal P V Naik said here Thursday.

Naik said these airstrips, called Advanced Landing
Grounds (ALGs), would be to augment the IAF's air maintenance
in the border state on the pattern of the three new ALGs made
operational in Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir and in the
western region bordering Pakistan in the last two years.

The IAF has opened the Daulat Beig Oldi, Fukche and Nyoma
ALGs in Ladakh since May last year. Among the new ALGs in
Arunachal Pradesh to be upgraded are Along, Walong and
Machuka.

"It is long overdue. These should have been done much
much earlier. But we got a go-ahead only now and we are
undertaking this particular task," he said.

On whether a repeat of Sino-Indian war of 1962 was
possible, he said, "I do not think it is possible now".

"I am confident, are you?" he said when asked if he was
confident of warding off the Chinese threat. "I am sure there
should be no lack of confidence in our public as far as
preparation of our country or armed forces is concerned for
any eventuality," he said (MORE) PTI NCB
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