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IAF is in shipshape, won't let Pak planes bother India: Sareen

The chief of air staff, Air Marshal S K Sareen, has said the Indian Air Force was well prepared to protect the country's skies in the event of an enemy attack.

''We do not want to have a war with any country as we believe in good relations with everybody. But at the same time, we cannot compromise with the security of our country,'' he said.

Dismissing Pakistani allegations that IAF aircraft had intruded their airspace, Air Marshal Sareen said, ''Why should we go into Pak territory when we have cameras which can take photographs from 40 kms away?''

Describing the situation along the border as ''normal,'' he said the country has been facing such firing from across every year during this period.

''This (firing) is not abnormal as we know that Pakistan wants to send more trained militants into this side with routes for infiltration thrown open because of melting snow,'' he said.

Asked how strong the IAF was compared to the Pakistani and Chinese forces, Air Marshal Sareen said the Pakistani air chief had recently admitted that India's was better.

He said though China was working to modernise its air force, India had nothing to fear. ''We are in good shape and nobody will bother us,'' he said.

Air Marshal Sareen said the United States sanctions have not affected the IAF at all as all its purchases are from Russia, the United Kingdom and France.

Asked if any Pakistani aircraft had violated India's airspace in recent times, he said there has been no such incidents.

He said the Srinagar airport would be ready by November 30.

UNI

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