Srinagar, May 24 (Scoop News) – Highlighting the crucial role played by the Indian Air Force and the other Defence Services in safeguarding the territorial integrity of the country, the Governor, N. N. Vohra, today emphasized the need of ensuring against any further delay in publishing the histories of war and military engagements in which the country had been involved since attaining Independence. A study of these histories would enable the younger generations of Defence Services officers to know the reasons for past failures and successes. Side by side, the civilian echelons, including the political echelons, would become more aware of the role and responsibilities of the officers and men of the Armed Forces and, in the process, engender meaningful synergy in the civil-military relations.
The Governor, as Chief Guest, was delivering the Keynote Address at the Special Session of the one-day Seminar on “Aerospace Power Application”, jointly organized by the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) and the Western Air Command at the Air Force Station here today.
The Governor emphasized that for future strategic planning considering the existing and emerging geo-political situation in our immediate neighbourhood and beyond, there is an imperative need for greater coordination among the three wings of the Defence Services, Paramilitary Forces, State Police organizations and other security agencies to effectively safeguard the national interests. He observed that the Air Force has always measured upto the challenges, both in peace and emergency situations, providing relief and succour to the people and defending the territorial integrity of the country. In this connection, he extensively referred to the saga of bravery demonstrated by the Air Force during the 1947-48, 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1999 conflicts and said that, in any future challenge, the role and application of air power would be of crucial significance and be increasingly important for the protection of the national interests. He also dwelt on the role played by the Indian Air Force in the various parts of the world as part of the UN Peace Keeping Force. He added that with the significant technological advancement relating to the airpower equipments in the past years there is a corresponding need for constant re-orientation and skill upgradation to deal with the emerging challenges with the required precision and promptitude. He said that the conflicts which have taken place in any part of the world in the past two decades and more would show that the role played by the ground and maritime forces led to the envisaged outcomes in all cases in which the required degree of air dominance was ensured.
The Governor lauded Air Commodore Jasjit Singh, Director of the Centre for Air Power Studies, and Air Marshal D. C. Kumaria, AOC-in-C, Western Air Command, for jointly organizing this Seminar on a very relevant subject and expressed hope that the expert deliberations during the various working sessions would engender valued recommendations.
The Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, Air Marshal D. C. Kumaria, speaking on the occasion, thanked the Governor for his thought provoking Keynote Address and for his contribution in varied fields.
The Director, Centre for Air Power Studies, Air Commodore Jasjit Singh (Retd) in his welcome address, dwelt on the aims and objects of organizing the Seminar. He spoke about the long association which the Governor has had with the Defence Services and the Centre for Air Power Studies.
The Corps Commander, 15 Corps, Lt. Gen. S. A. Hasnain, Air Officer Commanding, Jammu and Kashmir, Air Vice Marshal P. S. Gill, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Srinagar, Air Commodore Upkarjit Singh, Additional Director, Centre for Air Power Studies, Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak (Retd), and a number of senior officers of the Air Force and Army, functionaries of the Centre for Air Power Studies and participants of the Seminar were present on the occasion.
The daylong seminar will be spread over different technical sessions each devoted to the varied themes.