Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has stated that the Indian Air Force's involvement during the 1962 Sino-Indian war could have significantly slowed the Chinese offensive. He noted that while the use of air power was viewed as "escalatory" at the time, this perspective has changed, as demonstrated by Operation Sindoor.

Speaking in a recorded message during the launch of the revised autobiography of the late Lieutenant General S P P Thorat, titled 'Reveille to Retreat', General Chauhan emphasized that the forward policy applied to Ladakh and the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA), now Arunachal Pradesh, was flawed. He explained that these regions have different historical contexts and security situations.

"In Ladakh, China had already occupied much of Indian territory, whereas in NEFA, the legitimacy of India's claim was stronger," he said. He argued that treating both regions the same was misguided.

General Chauhan also mentioned that the security landscape and the nature of warfare have evolved over the years. He reflected on how the then-government did not permit the use of the IAF during the 1962 conflict, despite Lt Gen Thorat considering it.

He explained, "They would have had a significant advantage during the 1962 conflict. Use of air power would have slowed the Chinese offensive considerably, if not stymied it completely. This would have given the Army much more time to prepare."

The Chief of Defence Staff highlighted that Operation Sindoor, which involved air strikes against terror hubs in Pakistan, illustrates the current acceptance of air power in military strategy. He described Lt Gen Thorat's autobiography as a valuable resource for understanding leadership and military history, noting Thorat's distinguished service in various conflict zones, including Korea and Burma.

General Chauhan concluded that the lessons from Thorat's experiences remain relevant today, reflecting on the ongoing complexities of military strategy and geopolitics.