Tension In Ladakh: Srinagar Air Base Turns Into Logistics Hub

Srinagar: An Air Force base here has become a logistical hub by the military in the wake of the advance of Chinese forces in eastern Ladakh.

“This air-base has always held an important place in the scheme of things for the Air Force. From here we look at the quick induction of army and paramilitary forces; this place is ideally suited for these operations and we’ve been doing this for many months and years,” Group Captain Nishant Singh was quoted as saying to NDTV.

This can be called the biggest exercise of its kind, he added.

“You can call it that way because the volume of men and material that has been moved in the past few weeks and months is phenomenal,” he told NDTV.

This has been aided by the induction of large transport aircraft that can mobilise greater numbers of troops and supplies.

“Our day-to-day jobs is our training and we ensure that all inductions happen as planned, and as quickly and efficiently as possible, regardless of weather conditions,” the Group Captain told NDTV.

With Apache attack helicopters conducting night-time sorties from forward bases in Ladakh, the Air Force is not taking any chances.

The Srinagar airbase also played a key role during the Balakote airstrikes last year when the Air Force carried out precision strikes on terrorist camps across the Pakistan border.