Mr. Swaran Singh, Defence Minister, said in the Lok Sabha to-day [July 24, New Delhi] that the possibility of a sudden air attack by Pakistan had been engaging the Government’s attention. “Our experts and those who are in charge of tactical strategy are fully conscious of the implications of any such attack and have taken adequate measures to face the situation if it suddenly develops in that form”, he said. The S.S.P. member, Mr. Madhu Limaye, had asked if India had learnt a lesson from the Arab-Israeli conflict and was prepared to meet any sudden air attack from Pakistan. Later again, in reply to Mr. Indrajit Gupta, the Defence Minister said in estimating Pakistan’s air strength he had reckoned the 90 aircraft which found their way from West Germany through Iran into Pakistan. Some of them were actually in Pakistan but even if they were not in Pakistan, “I have to proceed on the basis that they will be available to Pakistan at the crucial time.” Mr. Balraj Madhok said there were reports that Pakistan was negotiating with the Soviet Union for getting arms and ammunitions and that the attitude of the Soviet Union to Pakistan was more sympathetic than it was before. There was also a report that Pakistan had set up new air bases near Skardu (in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) from where it could have direct air link with Sinkiang in China. Mr. Swaran Sngh said the Government had no information that the Soviet Union would supply military equipment to Pakistan. It was true that Pakistan was trying to improve the air facilities at Skardu. “We know the situation and we are conscious of the risk involved and are taking counter-measures.” Mr. Swaran Singh and the existence of U.S. observation bases in Pakistan was a well-known fact. It was not for India to lodge a protest to the U.S. about this but the Government had taken up the question of the general supply of U.S. military equipment to Pakistan from time to time with Washington. Mr. Swaran Singh told Mr. S.M. Banerjee that he had no information about an U-2 base being established in Sargodha.
