''Visit gives better understanding of NE'' : Chief Air Staff

Shillong, Mar 22 (UNI) Designated Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major today said his 18-month stint as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command had made him understand the situation in the north eastern region.

'' These months have been a learning time. Besides running the air command, I have learnt about nuances and situation existing in the region, '' he told reporters on the eve of his departure as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command (EAC).

He stated that this experience had given him a ''much better position to understand, what the armed forces in general and the Indian Air Force in particular need to do here. '' The EAC's command area sprawls across a vast region that includes Jharkhand, West Bengal and the eight states of the north East, which had contributed to his repository of knowledge, he said Asked to elaborate on what this ''understanding'' would translate into during his tenure as Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Major said, '' We know what the security situation is in the north east, in these years we have seen that it has tremendous potential to develop. '' UNI