News: 'Air power to propel Indian economy'

(BS 14/08/2006) Mumbai/Ahmedabad - In today’s world, the focus has shifted from geo-politics to geo-economics and aerospace power will become a major force to take India on the road to economic prosperity, opined Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi, the chief of air staff.

He was delivering a lecture on national security and air power at Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) on Saturday. Tyagi’s address is part of a series of lectures organised by AMA for its golden jubilee celebrations.

Talking on political instability in neighbouring countries, Tyagi added, “Military leaders and planners of India need to see the intentions of our neighbours and their capabilities must be taken into account.”

Pakistan, according to Tyagi, is looking for an identity and China is modernising its arms. A person will not invest in a country where there is political instability, the Air Force chief.

The world is no longer unipolar and there are several centres of power, he said. About the US stand on India, the air chief marshal added, “United States Air Force is our biggest advertiser at present.”

Tyagi stressed that we need to put an end to the ongoing insurgency in the North-East and in Jammu & Kashmir. The Maoist threat, which is felt from Kathmandu to Tamil Nadu, should also be checked, he added.

When asked about corruption in the defence forces, Tyagi replied, “I cannot say that there is no corruption. However, it is very less compared to any other organisation.”

In reply to a question on Google Earth being a threat to national security in the wake of recent terrorist activities, Tyagi said the images are a threat and efforts are on at a very high level to check the display of images of high-security areas.

“Currently, even if we block them, the images will not be seen in India. But our rivals can see it,” added Tyagi.

On the high attrition rate among pilots, Tyagi added, “As per my knowledge, about 10 to 15 pilots may have quit us to join domestic airlines that pay a higher salary package. Such things happen in any other office in the country. However, there is nothing to worry.”