Chandigarh: March 03, 2009 : Underlining the fundamentalism being the latest global threat and after 26/11 the international community came together to take some preventive measures so that the threat can be prevented and kept under control, Air Marshal PK Barbora Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command stated in his inaugural address during seminar held on “Security Environment and Employment of Military Power” under the aegis of Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) today at Air Force Station Chandigarh.
Seminar was conducted in three sessions, and all of them ended with a question answer session. The topic during first session of the seminar was Security Environment. The session was presided over by Sh. G. Parthasarthy, Former Indian High Commission to Pakistan. Sh. Parthasarthy mentioned the democratic differences between two political parties in Pakistan which is diverting concentration on main issues, further while speaking on military modernisation, he emphasised that it is matter of concern by the military equipment supply from China and impending supply of 62 more F-16 by USA to Pakistan.
The topic, Future of Pakistan was covered by Sh. Ajit Doval Former Director, Intelligence Bureau, articulated views specially with reference to current politico-military turmoil on Afganisthan border , SWAT regions and Talibinisation of Pakistan. Military Modernisation discussed by Ms Shalini Chawla, Researach Fellow, CAPS and Past Strategy-Future Trends by Brigdadier Gurmeet Kanwal (Retd) Director, CLAWS.
The topic of the second session was Employment of military power for political effect. The session was presided over by Air Commodore Jasjit Singh (Retd), Director of Centre for Air Power Studies. The topics Conventional War Coercion in a New Environment was covered by Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak (Retd), Additional Director, CAPS, Role of IAF in Nation Security by Air Marshal PK Mehra (Retd) Former AOC in-C , SWAC, IAF AND Counter Terrorism by Lt Col Rajiv Ghose Research Fellow, CAPS.
The topic of the third session was Air Force Issues: Trends and Pointers. The session was presided over by Air Marshal PK Mehra (Retd). The topic Salience of Faster Intelligence Decision Cycle was covered by Air Vice Marshal VN Kalia ACAS (intelligence), Air HQ, Revisiting Kargil 1999 by Air Marshal Vinod Patney (Retd) Former Vice Chief of the Air Staff and by Gp Capt SC Chafekar SC CO, 48 Sqn, AF.
The seminar was attended by dignitaries from civil and military brass. Sh. G. Parthasarthy, former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan, Sh. Ajit Doval, Former Director IB, Brig Gurmeet Kanwal, Director, Center for land warfare studies (CLAWS), Air Cmde Jasjit Singh, Sh. Kapil Kak Addl Dir CAPS, Air Marshal PK Mehra, Sh. V.N. Kalia Air Marshal Vinod Patney, Air Marshal Sumit Mukherji ,Air Officer Personnel were among the prominent speakers who delivered lectures on definite topics. Representatives from all WAC units, Indian Army and other Defence institutions attended the seminar.
Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) located at New Delhi. CAPS is an independent, non-profit think tank that undertakes and promotes policy related research, study and discussions on defence and military issues, trends and development in air power and space for civil and military purposes, as also related issues of national security.
In the closing session Valedictory Address was given Air Marshal Sumit Mukherji ,Air Officer Personnel , Air HQ and closing remarks by Air Commodore Jasjit Singh AVSM (Retd).