The Indian Air Force (IAF) does not want to operate in Naxal-hit areas with its hands tied.

It has sought the government’s permission to shoot Naxals in self-defence, a reflection of the worsening Maoist problem.

Air Chief Marshal P. V. Naik said on Thursday, “We have put up a case before the defence ministry. It is absolutely important that the air force be allowed to fire in self-defence whenever its helicopters or aircrew comes under attack.”

He was concerned about IAF choppers or the aircrew being attacked while supporting anti-Naxal operations.

IAF choppers have been fired upon several times by Naxals. A flight engineer was killed in one such attack last year.

The armed forces are not directly involved in the fight against Naxals. They do not want to be involved, either. Naik said, “I firmly believe that the role of the armed forces is not inside the country but to defend (the country) against external aggression.”

But the military provides vital support to the police and paramilitary forces, which are in the forefront in the fight against Naxals.

If the army is imparting training, the IAF has deployed unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance and providing intelligence to the security forces. Helicopters are being used for ferrying troops, reconnaissance and evacuating casualties.

On using airpower against Naxals, Naik said foolproof intelligence would be required to launch such operations because the risk of collateral damage (common people getting killed) was extremely high.

There are no plans to rope in the military to fight Naxals. He said the air force had rarely used airpower against the citizens of the country. Referring to US drone attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said, “Even these attacks have taken place outside US territory.”

On a day Beijing marked the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China with a display of military might, Naik said a repeat of 1962 (when India suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of China) was not possible. Responding to a question, he said, “We have acquired a set of capabilities…we are building capabilities and infrastructure. No one in (his) right mind wants to wage war …”