Josh is high: IAF chief Dhanoa\, who flew night missions during Kargil\, suggested air strikes option



Josh is high: IAF chief Dhanoa, who flew night missions during Kargil, suggested air strikes option

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Air Staff chief Dhanoa suggested that airstrikes on terror launch pads as a possible response.

Planning India's counter-attack after the deadly and possibly one of the worst Pulwama terror attack where 40 CRPF personnel were martyred on February 14, IAF fighter jets targeted Jaish-e-Mohammad's (JeM) training camp at Balakote in Pakistan and other areas, bombing JeM terror training camps killing more than 300 terrorists. Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa had presented the action plan to the government of how India was looking to retaliate. According to reports, Air Staff chief Dhanoa suggested that airstrikes on terror launch pads as possible response. The plan was shared to the government by Air Chief the next day after the Pulwama attack which was approved by the government. 

Here's a brief look into who is Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa

  • India's retaliatory response to the Pulwama terror attack was conducted under the supervision of Indian Air Force Chief BS Dhanoa, who is having 37 years of experience and has himself carried night strike missions. 
  • It was during the Kargil war when BS Dhanoa commanded a fighter Squadron and coordinated with the then IAF chief AY Tipnis in the Kargil war. 
  • Reports say that BS Dhanoa was the one who had said that he will take his own call to fly as he did not want his chief's life to be put in danger, who was flying with the IAF pilots to boost their morale during the Kargil war.
  • Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa has delivered his services in many areas including Station Commander of a fighter base and leads the Indian Military Training Team.
  • Air Chief Marshal has been awarded Yudh Seva Medal (YSM), Vayusena Medal (VM) in 1999, Ati Vishish Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2015.

After the Pulwama attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said his government has given full freedom to the Army to decide how and when they will avenge the Pulwama terror attack. Going as planned, on February 26, 12 Mirage 2000s, armed with laser-guided bombs, take off in batches and destroyed JeM training camps in Balakote. India's counter-attack mission was carried out between 3:20 and 3.30 am, killing more than 300 terrorists.