India's disputed north-eastern border with China is well guarded, the chief of the Indian Air Forces eastern command said Sunday, rejecting reports of Chinese incursion.
Air Marshal K.N. Nair told a news conference here that even the airspace was constantly monitored.
"We don’t expect any kind of threat in the near future with both sides (India and China) striving hard along the borders to maintain peace and tranquility", Nair said.
The air force marshal, however, said troops were on full alert to meet any challenge on Indias eastern frontier flanked by China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan.
India and China fought a brief but bitter border war in 1962.
"During peace time we keep on training to prepare eventually for war time no matter what is the situation. We are fully geared up to meet any challenge although we dont expect anything of that sort with the eastern frontiers absolutely benign," Nair said.
As part of the defence preparedness, the Indian Air Force trains about 100 fighter pilots a year from one of the advanced flying institutes based at the Salonabari Air Force station in the north-eastern state of Assam.
Both the Indian army and the air force have beefed up their presence along the 1,030-kilometre-long (643-mile-) Sino-Indian border along the state of Arunachal Pradesh state after chief minister Mukut Mithi last month said Chinese troops were violating the frontier -- GUWAHTI (AFP)
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