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Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force, on Wednesday said military power remained the final guarantor of national security, warning that economic or diplomatic strength alone could not protect a nationтАЩs sovereignty.
Speaking at the 22nd Subroto Mukherjee Seminar on national security imperatives in New Delhi, he cited Venezuela and Iraq as examples of countries rendered vulnerable by weak defence capabilities.
тАЬMilitary power is the ultimate arbiter,тАЭ he said. тАЬWithout a robust military, you can be subjugated.тАЭ
Air Chief said economic dominance had not prevented colonisation in the past.
тАЬWe once controlled a large share of global GDP,тАЭ he noted. тАЬThat did not stop us from being colonised.тАЭ
He stressed that beyond capability, the will to use military power was critical.
тАЬRestraint without strength is seen as weakness,тАЭ he said. тАЬRestraint backed by strength is respected.тАЭ
Emphasising the role of air power in modern warfare, Air Chief Marshal Singh said air capabilities had repeatedly delivered decisive results.
тАЬAir power delivers speed and precision,тАЭ he said.
He pointed to counter-terror strikes, humanitarian evacuations and rapid responses as examples that sent тАЬa clear signalтАЭ to adversaries.
He noted the IAF demonstrated its ability to strike multiple targets deep inside Pakistan within hours during Operation Sindoor. The operation aimed to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied areas and convey deterrence.
тАЬThe objectives were clear,тАЭ he said. тАЬWe disengaged after achieving them.тАЭ
He added that many conflicts dragged on due to a lack of clarity.
тАЬClear aims and decisive execution matter,тАЭ he said.
Addressing PakistanтАЩs claims of shooting down Indian fighter jets, the Air Chief dismissed them as unsubstantiated. He said India had released verifiable imagery of damage to Pakistani targets, while Islamabad had provided no credible evidence.
Recalling Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee, the founding father of the IAF, he said the force was built under severe constraints. While the IAF today was better resourced, he cautioned against complacency. тАЬDo not rest on past glory,тАЭ he said. тАЬPrepare for future challenges.тАЭ
The annual seminar, organised by the Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies (CAPSS), brought together senior military leaders and defence experts to discuss emerging security challenges amid a volatile global environment.
Team BharatShakti
