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| Choppers to dot J&K skylines | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu|Sep: Even as the talk of demilitarization is on to thin down the troops in Jammu and Kashmir, the skyline in this troubled state may soon be seen dotted with helicopters engaged in the anti-insurgency operations.
After equipping its helicopter squadrons in the east with night vision devices, the IAF is shifting its focus to units in the western region where such aircraft could be used for casualty evacuation and also come to the aid of troops in militancy-hit areas like Jammu and Kashmir.
The helicopters of the Indian Air Force, which have won laurels over casualty evacuation missions during the day in the militancy-hit state, could now be used during the night as well for transporting injured soldiers, a move that is expected to give a fillip to the morale of troops engaged in countering insurgents, it is learnt.
The IAF has been proposing to the government that its assets could be used in low-intensity warfare, and making the helicopters available for night-time missions is being seen as an opportunity to work out modalities for involving air warriors in counter-insurgency operations.
Helicopter gunships and fighter jets of the IAF were instrumental in breaking the backbone of the Pakistani intrusion in the Kargil sector in 1999, forcing the intruders to withdraw from strategic heights they had occupied.
The IAF was silent on the issue officially but sources in the armed forces said a proposal had been sent to the government for the use of air power in counter-insurgency operations.
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