The main aim of the four-day ‘Exercise Talon’ involving the Western Air Command (WAC) is to “improve operational preparedness and air defence” in the entire stretch, The Times of India quoted defence sources as saying on Monday.
WAC had conducted a similar exercise just about a week before the terror attack on an Indian Army base in Uri on September 18, added the TOI.
Sources said in the TOI report that India had to repeat the intensive exercises in the same month after Pakistan fighter jets’ successful show of strength on a regular basis earlier this month.
Must Read: PAF fighter planes’ show of strength during exercise ‘Highmark’
Tensions between Pakistan and India – longtime rivals – have spiked over a recent attack on an Indian army base in Kashmir amid rising unrest in the valley.
India blames Pakistan for having an alleged role in the attack; however, Pakistan insists that the attack was an Indian bid to divert world’s attention from the burning issue of Kashmir in the middle of a United Nations (UN) General Assembly session.
Pakistan Air Force routine exercise ‘Highmark’ also came at a time when tension between the two nuclear-armed and not-so-friendly neighbours was already running high.
Kashmir has been a split between Pakistan and Indian since the end of British rule in 1947.
Both claim the disputed valley in its entirety and have fought two wars over it.
As Pakistan continues to support Kashmir freedom movement on every important platform, Indian had pledged to push to make Pakistan a pariah state in the eyes of the global community.
