CDS Chauhan: IAF’s involvement in 1962 war could have stalled Chinese advance

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan stated that the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) involvement in the 1962 Sino-Indian war could have considerably hampered the Chinese offensive. He noted that while such an action might have been perceived as “escalatory” at the time, it is no longer the case, as demonstrated by Operation Sindoor. General Chauhan also critically examined the “forward policy” adopted during the war, suggesting it should not have been applied uniformly to Ladakh and NEFA (now Arunachal Pradesh). He pointed out the distinct historical disputes, security contexts, and terrains of these regions, deeming the identical policy application flawed. He remarked that in Ladakh, China had already occupied Indian territory, whereas India’s claim in NEFA was stronger, making a parallel approach problematic. General Chauhan shared these insights during the release of the revised autobiography of the late Lieutenant General S.P.P. Thorat in Pune. Lt Gen Thorat had served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command before the 1962 war. General Chauhan commended Thorat’s autobiography for offering valuable perspectives on leadership, strategy, and India’s military history. He recalled that Thorat had considered using the IAF, but the government of the day did not approve the move. Chauhan emphasized the potential advantages of air power, including shorter turnaround times, favorable geography, and the ability to deliver maximum impact on the enemy, which could have slowed or stopped the Chinese advance and provided the Indian Army more time to prepare. He concluded by stating that Operation Sindoor, which involved India using air power to dismantle terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK following the Pahalgam massacre, exemplifies the current strategic view on employing air power.

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