Indian Air Force (IAF) counts the targets hit, it does not count human casualties, said Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa today (Monday, March 4) on Balakot air strike.<\/p>\n
Addressing the press in Coimbatore, the Air Chief said: \u201cIAF is not in a position to clarify the number of casualties. The government will clarify that. We don\u2019t count human casualties, we count what targets we have hit or not.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Air Chief\u2019s remarks come a day after BJP president Amit Shah<\/a> claimed that over 250 terrorists were killed in the IAF air strike deep inside Pakistan. \u201cAfter the Uri attack, the army did a surgical strike. After the Pulwama attack, people said there could not be a surgical strike due to the high level of alertness. But on the 13th day, the Narendra Modi government<\/a> carried out an air strike, and more than 250 terrorists were killed without suffering any losses,\u201d Shah had said on Sunday.<\/p>\n Air Chief Dhanoa said: \u201cWe can\u2019t count how many people died, it depends on how many people were there. That statement will be made by the government, the air force is not in a position to clarify how many people were inside the target.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we plan to hit a target, we hit the target,\u201d said Dhanoa. \u201cOtherwise, why would they [Pakistan] have responded?\u201d<\/p>\n On February 27, Pakistan in return had claimed that its Air Force had struck \u201cnon-military\u201d targets across the Line of Control in a show of its capability, and had shot down two Indian aircraft that tried to respond. India said it had shot down a Pakistani jet that tried to target military installations. A pilot of the Indian Air Force, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was taken in custody by Pakistan after his MiG-21 Bison was shot down. He was later released and came back to India on Friday night.<\/p>\n Dhanoa said that Pakistan would not have felt the need to respond if the IAF had dropped bombs in a jungle. Pakistan\u2019s Climate Change Minister Malik Amin Aslam had earlier claimed that the IAF jets had bombed a \u201cforest reserve\u201d and damaged dozens of pine trees.<\/p>\n Responding to why the MiG-21 Bison was used to chase away Pakistani fighter jets, Dhanoa said the aircraft was an upgraded version and was capable of retaliation. \u201cThe Mig-21 Bison is a capable aircraft, it has been upgraded, it has better radar, air-to air missiles and better weapons system,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen the adversary attacks you, every aircraft available is used. All aircraft are capable of fighting the enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n In his first remarks since the February 26 attack on a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot in Pakistan, Dhanoa said the Rafale jet should come into India\u2019s inventory by September.<\/p>\n Questioned about the capability of the MiG 21 Bison, which was among the IAF aircraft used to repel the Pakistan fighter jets that violated Indian airspace, Dhanoa said: \u201cThe Mig-21 Bison is a capable aircraft, it has been upgraded, it has better radar, air-to-air missiles and better weapons system\u2026 We fight with all the aircraft in the inventory. Remember the initiative is always with the adversary.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked about the present situation on the border, he said: \u201cIt is an ongoing operation, I will not comment on it.\u201d<\/p>\n On whether IAF wing commander Abhinandhan Varthaman<\/a> would fly again, Dhanoa said: \u201cWhether he flies again or not depends on his medical fitness. That\u2019s why post-ejection, he has undergone medical check. Whatever treatment required, will be given. Once we get his medical fitness, he will get into fighter cockpit.\u201d<\/p>\n Dhanoa was briefing the press when President Ram Nath Kovind was in Coimbatore to present the President\u2019s Colours to Air Force Station, Hakimpet and 5 Base Repair Depot at the Air Force Station in Sulur.<\/p>\n The President said India is committed to peace but will use \u201call our might\u201d to protect the nation if the need arises. He said the country\u2019s valour was on display when, on February 26, the Indian Air Force (IAF)<\/a> conducted pre-emptive air strikes on a terrorist camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot, Pakistan.<\/p>\n \u201cIndia remains firmly committed to peace, but in case the need arises, we will use all our might to protect the nation,\u201d the President said. \u201cOur Armed Forces reflect our resolve. This valour was on display very recently, as the IAF carried out pre-emptive strikes on a terrorist camp.<\/p>\n The strike was in retaliation to the Pulwama suicide attack on February 14, in which 40 jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force were killed. The bombing was claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammad, led by Pakistan-based Masood Azhar.<\/p>\n Hours after the pre-dawn operation, Gokhale said India had carried out \u201cnon-military preemptive\u201d strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammad\u2019s biggest terror camp after receiving credible intelligence that the outfit was attempting suicide attacks in various parts of the country.<\/p>\n