Any development work in Arunachal Pradesh was not country-specific but part of the government's plan to enhance infrastructure facilities in the north-east, Vice-Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal P K Barbora, informed journalists at a press conference. “India was not creating anything new in the northeast. Let me categorically tell you that we are creating nothing new in the northeast. We are only updating our existing infrastructure, roads and airfields. IAF's infrastructure and capabilities plan was not adversary-specific, but capability-specific. IAF does not fear anybody. So it is again I repeat here, nothing to do with raising tension, I haven't said anything about Chinese having constructed any airfields on their side in Tibet area. No, I don't think they should say anything about our construction or improvement in infrastructure in the northeast or in the Ladakh area,”Air Marshal Barbora said here on the sidelines of a function to launch the India-Oman air force exercises. The IAF vice chief was replying to questions if the Air Force feared adverse Chinese reaction to it upgrading six Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in Arunachal Pradesh.

IAF is acquiring more 'Akash' medium range Surface-to-Air missile squadrons for deployment in the North-East, apart from the Sukhois it would base at Tezpur and other air bases there. “We have two squadrons of Akash at present. We are asking for more squadrons for the North-East to upgrade our air defence capabilities. It is a good missile and we have also asked for some improvements in it,” Barbora said.

“I don't know why the Chinese are talking about our prime minister's visit to Pasighat, which took place I think about a week or 10 days back. But they did not say anything when our President visited Tawang. The President is the head of the armed forces, so you can read between the lines if you want to,” he said. Beijing said on Tuesday it was “seriously dissatisfied” with Singh's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is yet to receive permission to fire in self-defence during anti-Maoist operations. “We have asked the government to be given the authority to open fire in self-defence if fired upon by the Maoists during operations. But so far we have not received any official communication or specific directions from the government,” IAF vice chief Air Marshal P.K. Barbora told reporters. The IAF had sought permission from the government to fire at Maoist guerrillas if they came under attack from the rebels during any operation.

Launching the first bilateral Indo-Oman Air Exercise the IAF vice chief, Air Marshal P.K. Barbora, told reporters, that the exercise will enhance the understanding of operational, maintenance and administrative procedures between the RAFO and the IAF. The bilateral exercise would also be cost-effective in terms of benefit realization of operational and tactical preparedness over an unknown mixed terrain of land and desert. Code-named Eastern Bridge, the Oct. 22-29 air exercise will take place at the Royal Air Force of Oman base at Thumrait, nearly 1,200 kilometers from the capital, Muscat.