CDS General Anil Chauhan stated that if the Air Force had been used in the 1962 India-China war, Chinese aggression would have slowed down. He also cited the uniformity of the Forward Policy and the change brought by Operation Sindoor as examples.
New Delhi. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has made significant remarks regarding the 1962 India-China war. He stated that if the Indian Air Force (IAF) had been used in that war, Chinese attacks could have been largely contained. He made these comments via a video message during the Pune launch of Lieutenant General SPP Thorat's revised autobiography, 'Reveille to Retreat'.
General Chauhan explained that at the time, the use of the Air Force was considered "aggressive," which is why it was not employed. However, circumstances have now changed, as seen in the recent Operation Sindoor, where the Air Force was used as part of a conventional strategy.
Potential Impact of Air Force in the 1962 War
General Chauhan stated that applying the Forward Policy adopted in 1962 uniformly in Ladakh and the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA, now Arunachal Pradesh) was not strategically correct. China had already occupied Indian territory in Ladakh, whereas India's claim was b in NEFA. Adopting the same policy for both regions was a major strategic error.
He further added that Lieutenant General Thorat had considered using the Air Force at that time. If the government had granted permission, the deployment of the Air Force would have slowed down the Chinese aggression and provided the army with more time to prepare.
Air Force Use Considered "Aggressive" Back Then
General Chauhan explained that not using the Air Force in 1962 was a major missed opportunity. Due to short turnaround times, favorable geography, and maximum payload capacity, the Air Force could have inflicted significant damage on the Chinese army. At that time, it was deemed "aggressive," which is why it was not utilized.
He stated that circumstances have now changed. In Operation Sindoor, which took place in May 2025, India used air power to destroy terrorist targets in Pakistan and PoK. This operation demonstrated that the use of the Air Force has now become an integral part of normal strategic planning.
Error of Uniformity in Forward Policy
The CDS explained that the uniformity between Ladakh and NEFA when implementing the Forward Policy was a strategic blunder. The geographical and political landscape of Ladakh differed from that of NEFA. China was already in an advanced position in Ladakh, whereas India's claim was ber in NEFA. Therefore, adopting the same policy for both regions was inappropriate.
General Chauhan also stated that it is difficult to judge the decisions of that era in today's context, as geopolitics and security circumstances have now completely transformed.
Strategy Changed by Operation Sindoor
Citing Operation Sindoor as an example, General Chauhan stated that the use of the Air Force is no longer considered an "aggressive" step. In this operation, India utilized air power on targeted locations, demonstrating the crucial role the Air Force can play in modern warfare strategy.
He added that if the Air Force had been utilized in 1962, Chinese troops would have faced significant difficulties due to short turnaround times and favorable geography. This would also have provided the army with ample time for preparation and response.
