No imminent threat to Air Force bases: Air Marshal

Jorhat, Nov 20 (UNI) Air Marshal F H Major today said jehadi and other militant threats to air bases in the North East still existed though there was "no imminent threat".

Talking to reporters at the Indian Air Force (IAF) station here, he said, "Militants striking defense bases is always a possibility and security is in place to meet any such threat." "There is no such imminent threat," he said adding Intelligence wings provided the IAF with routine updates of possible strikes.

On any possible hostility on the Chinese side in Arunachal Pradesh, the Air Marshall said, "No such threat exist in the present." He informed that the IAF was orgainsing a grand air show at Jorhat on November 25, in line with a series of such shows to across NE to attract and make the people of the region more aware of the acitivites and career oppurtunites in the force.

He pointed out that recruitment of local youths in IAF after such air shows had increased considerably.

"The special recruitment drives, besides the regular recruitment procedures, have attracted more participation after awareness regarding the IAF was increased through the air show," he said.

He, however, added that no sops or special concessions were provided to NE youths and they had to compete on all-India standards to make the cut.

To a query, he said the IAF had no immediate plans for recruiting women fighter pilots as a matter of policy, though women pilots were being regularly engaged in other activities of the force.

Air Marshall Major further said the IAF was involved in disaster relief in a major way in the region.

"The IAF has well laid down programmes for disaster management, in coordination with the Army and the civil administration." The IAF provided logistical support in many remote areas inaccessible through roads in Arunachal Pradesh for the state government, as it did in may parts of northern India, the Air Marshall said.

He said the IAF maintained about seven such remote stations in Arunachal Pradesh which were totally inaccessible during the winters.

UNI SG SJC SS1859