Not IAF’s job to count human casualties: Air chief Dhanoa

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa holds a press conference in Coimbatore. Excerpts: 

Casualties at Balakot: We don’t count human casualties, that is for the government to inform you. We can’t count how many people have died, it depends on how many people were there.

On whether the IAF hit the target: We hit the intended target in Balakot. The target has been clearly amplified by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale in his statement. If we plan to hit the target, we hit the target, otherwise why would he (Pak PM) have responded. If we dropped bombs in the jungles why would he respond.

On the The Mig-21 Bison used against Pak’s F16s: We fight with all aircraft in our inventory. The Mig-21 Bison is a capable aircraft, it has been upgraded, it has better radar, air-to air missiles and better weapons system. We have plans for inducting new aircraft; the Rafale should arrive in September.

One is a planned operation in which you plan and carry out. But when an adversary does a strike on you, every available aircraft goes in, irrespective of which aircraft it is.  All aircraft are capable of fighting the enemy.

Whether Wing Commander Abhinandan is fit to fly: Whether he flies or not depends on his medical fitness. That’s 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.