NEW DELHI – The Indian Air Force is activating civil airfield of JollyGrant airport in Dehradun. A detachment of two Sukhoi (Su-30 MKI) aircraftwill operate from the airport for two days – February 19 and February 20.This is being seen as a strategic move to counter China.
“The detachment would operate from the airfield for two days from Feb 19for area familiarisation before returning to their parent base,” the IAFsaid.
The move by the Indian Air Force (IAF) is viewed as India’s preparation forperceived Chinese aggression in near future, in the wake of violation ofairspace in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in the past.
The move comes amid increasing assertiveness by Chinese soldiers alongnearly 4,000 km-long Sino-India border which includes a portion inUttarakhand.
According to officials, the IAF will operate two Sukhoi fighter jets willoperate from the airport near Dehradun as part of a move to expand optionsfor any future requirement.
“As a routine exercise of activating civil airfield by the IAF, adetachment of two Su-30 MKI aircraft would operate from Jolly Grant Airportin Dehradun,” Indian Air Force said in a statement.
In June 2017, a suspected Chinese helicopter was sighted flying aboveIndian territory in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand, close to Sino-Indiaborder.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Chamoli Tripti Bhatt had told ANI, “Thehelicopter violated Indian airspace for over three to five minutes”.
Meanwhile on Thursday, China has shown reservation to the visit of PrimeMinister Narendra Modi to Arunachal Pradesh which it claims as part ofSouth Tibet and said it would lodge a diplomatic protest with India.
“China’s position on the China-India boundary question is consistent andclear-cut,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang inresponse to Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday.
“The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called ArunachalPradesh and is firmly opposed to the Indian leader’s visit to the disputedarea,” Geng was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency.
“We will lodge stern representations with the Indian side,” he said.