STRATEGY
IAF
Special
IMPLICATIONS OF THE TURMOIL IN AFGHANISTAN FOR THE IAF Over the years, the Indian Air Force has played a significant role in providing succour to our countrymen in times of calamities of all kinds By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)
Photograph: MEAIndia / Twitter
During wartime, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is confronted with wide ranging operational tasks. The fleet of fighter aircraft is required to undertake combat missions that involves attacking military targets deep inside enemy territory, ensuring the security of own airspace by way of air defence missions and provide tactical support to own ground forces battling the enemy. Apart from the tasks stated above undertaken during war time that undoubtedly are challenging, humanitarian relief missions required in the wake of whether in the event of natural calamities such as earthquakes, cyclones and Tsunamis or manmade disasters, have been and continue to be a critical responsibility both during peace and war that the IAF has always been prepared to shoulder. Over the years, the IAF has played a significant role in providing succour to our countrymen in times of calamities of all kinds. INVASION OF KABUL BY THE TALIBAN Segments of the IAF that are called upon to undertake humanitarian or disaster relief missions are the fleets of transport aircraft and helicopters. The IAF is always ready to provide swift response which the organisation has been doing over the years gone by both within the country and abroad. The IAF is ever ready to do so in the future as well. And so it was that when all hell broke loose in the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul, on August 15 this year when the Taliban captured the capital of the country. The speed with which the Taliban moved Northwards from Kandahar and took over control of Kabul came as a surprise for not only those residing in
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ISSUE 9 • 2021
IAF was called upon to carry out immediate evacuation of Indians from Afghanistan when Taliban took over Kabul
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