Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22.
The meeting comes just a day after Prime Minister Modi held a separate discussion with Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi. During that meeting, Admiral Tripathi briefed the Prime Minister on the prevailing security situation in the strategically important sea lanes of the Arabian Sea.
These high-level meetings carry significant weight given the historical context. The last major terrorist attack on Indian forces in Pulwama in February 2019 had prompted a swift response by the Indian Air Force, which conducted airstrikes on terror camps in Balakot, Pakistan. That operation marked a turning point in India's military posture toward cross-border terrorism.
Since then, the Indian Air Force has significantly enhanced its capabilities. The induction of French-made Rafale fighter jets post-Balakot has added considerable muscle to India’s air strike potential. These jets are equipped with advanced long-range missiles capable of striking targets with high precision. Additionally, India’s air defence systems have been bolstered by the Russian-origin S-400 Triumf system, which can simultaneously detect, track, and neutralize multiple aerial threats.
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In both his meetings—with the IAF Chief on Sunday and the Navy Chief on Saturday—Prime Minister Modi is believed to have reviewed a range of strategic and military options available to India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror incident.
Meanwhile, the global community has begun weighing in. Earlier this week, U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, during an interview with Fox News, urged caution, stating, “We hope that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn’t lead to a broader regional conflict.”
He also issued a pointed message to Pakistan, saying, “Frankly, we also hope that Pakistan, to the extent it is responsible, cooperates with India to ensure that terrorists, who sometimes operate from its territory, are hunted down.”
Also Read: Terrorists eyed 3 J&K sites before Pahalgam attack: Sources
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