The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently celebrated its 84th anniversary with the usual fanfare. What was the reluctance of India’s political and military leadership to use its offensive air power assets to stop the advance of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in NEFA and Ladakh? Let us first examine the strength of the air force of both the countries in 1962. Mullik, who said that Kaul had not asked for air support. The question of air support had anyway been considered at the headquarters and the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) arrived at the conclusion that the positions were so interlocked that air strikes would have endangered the safety of India’s own troops.

Source: The Hindu November 17, 2016 19:30 UTC