PoK would have been ours had we opted for military solution:

IAF chief New Delhi, Sep 1 (PTI) IAF chief Air Chief Marshal ArupRaha today indicated that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK) wouldhave been India’s had the country gone for a military solutionrather than taking a "moral high ground". Raha also rued that air power had not been fully utilisedby the Indian government till the 1971 Indo-Pak war. In unusually candid remarks, the Air Force chief termedPoK as a "thorn in our flesh" and said India did not follow a"pragmatic approach" to security needs. He said India’s security environment is vitiated andaerospace power, as part of the military power, would berequired to deter a conflict in the region and also ensurepeace and tranquillity. "Our foreign policy was enshrined in the charter of theUN, charter of the Non-Alignment Movement as well as Panchseeldoctrine. "We have been governed by high ideals and we really didnot follow a very pragmatic approach, to my mind, to securityneeds. To that extent, we did ignore the role of the militarypower to maintain conducive environment," Raha said at anaerospace seminar here. He said India as a country was "reluctant" to usemilitary power, especially air power, in deterringadversaries, in deterring a conflict and when involved inconflict the country has been drawn into several times in thepast. He said when hordes of raiders attacked Jammu and Kashmirin 1947, it was the transport planes of the IAF which helpedIndian soldiers and equipment to reach the battleground. "And when a military solution was in sight, taking moralhigh ground, I think we went to UN for a peaceful solution tothis problem. The problem still continues. PoK remains a thornin our flesh today," he said. Raha said that in 1962, air power went under-utilisedbecause of the fear of a skirmish. "In 1965 conflict, we did not use air power against EastPakistan because of political reasons despite Pakistani AirForce operating from East Pakistan attacking our air bases,infrastructure, aircraft on ground. We had severe setbacks butwe never retaliated," he rued. The IAF chief said the only time when air power was fullyutilised was in 1971 war and the three forces blendedcompletely resulting in the creation of Bangladesh. "But the situation has changed. We are ready to use airpower to defend ourselves and deter a conflict," he said. PTISAP SMN SK GSNGSN