Airmen from the 15th Airlift Wing wait to board an Indian IL-76 medium cargo aircraft for a training mission with an Indian aircrew visiting Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Sept. 20. Terming the Pathankot attack as “a learning experience”, the officer said the proposed comprehensive security upgrade was already in the pipeline but was earlier being undertaken in a phased manner due to financial constraints. The cost will come to about Rs100-150 crore per base, he said. The audit ordered by defence minister Manohar Parrikar within two days of the attack looked at the current security setup and perimeter defence at all bases and recommended a comprehensive upgrade, a senior air force official who is involved in the process said.
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India is continuing to put pressure on Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the Pathankot attack, which killed at least eight people, to justice.
IAF also stated that the assessment of Pathnakot attack did not find major lapses in the security of the Pathankot station.
The IAF stepping up the security at its front-line bases follows an audit of security at the air-force stations by a committee. IAF has also asked the government to strictly enforce the existing ban against any construction within 100 metres of any airbase and within 900 metres of any ammunition depot, which is often flouted.
“The proposal sent to government includes smart fencing for the bases, and removal of encroachments along the boundary of the bases and other things”, the official said.
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Asked about the Hindon air base on the outskirts of the national capital, the officer said nearly 60 percent of the work on constructing the boundary walls is completed. “Whether the person is unarmed, what is the threat perception etc.”, said an official. Similar audits are in fact conducted every six months.
