Former IAF Chief AY Tipnis: Brilliant action, unequivocal message there is limit to India’s tolerance

Former IAF Chief AY Tipnis says IAF strike across LoC "conveys that though Pakistan uses terrorism as a tool against India, we are within our rights of International law to take such action."

Former IAF Chief AY Tipnis: It's brilliant action, unequivocal message that there is a limit to India's tolerance — Former IAF Chief AY Tipnis said, “It is being reported that 12 jets targeted four places, if that is true then it is big and something that most had not imagined.” (Express archive photo)

Hours after Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jets carried out a “non-military, preemptive action” against a major terror camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammad in Balakot, former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis, who commanded the IAF during the Kargil War, told The Indian Express, “From what I am gathering, this is a brilliant, well-planned action and unequivocal message that there is a limit to India’s tolerance. It is being reported that 12 jets targeted four places, if that is true then it is big and something that most had not imagined. This shows that India’s action was not knee jerk in nature and a clear message that we are acting and not merely reacting to what Pakistan has done.”

Asked about the possibility of escalation, Tipnis said, “There always is a possibility of escalation and I am sure a thorough planning has already been done preempting any such scenario. Rather, the time that India has taken after the Pulwama attack, must have gone into preparing the defences. We also must understand that many times, the escalation is not incremental but can go from say zero to a hundred in no time and we have to be prepared for that. I think this also conveys that though Pakistan uses terrorism as a tool against India, we are within our rights of International law to take such action.”

IAF jets hit terror camps across Line of Control. Follow LIVE updates

Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, who was Chief of Air Staff between May 2009 and July 2011, said, “This is a strong lesson to Pakistan and not some revenge as was being talked about. Also, the use of the Air Force to strike at the terror centres is a strong message from the Indian leadership. I have always been a proponent of the use of Air Force to deal with the menace of the terrorism.”

When asked about the possibility of escalation, Air Chief Marshal Naik said, “Both sides will be on alert and so will be the Air Defence systems. I am sure that we are prepared for any scenario.”

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