India Faces Growing Dual Terror Challenge, Says Former IAF Chief Arup Raha

Former Indian Air Force Chief Arup Raha has warned that India is increasingly vulnerable to a “two-front” terror threat emerging simultaneously from Pakistan and Bangladesh. He urged the country to heighten vigilance and accelerate the development of indigenous air-power capabilities.

Raha described India as “an oasis in a desert of instability,” pointing out that its political and economic stability contrasts sharply with the volatility in neighbouring regions. He cautioned that terror groups backed by Pakistan continue to pose a long-standing danger, while recent political shifts in Bangladesh have intensified concerns about a rise in fundamentalist influence. Despite this, he expressed confidence that the secular and peace-loving nature of Bangladeshi society would limit extremist momentum.

He suggested that Pakistan may be exploiting current political uncertainty in Bangladesh to build intelligence or military links, although he noted that Bangladesh’s historical memory of the 1971 genocide makes a deep alliance between the two unlikely.

Underscoring the importance of intelligence gathering, Raha said Indian security forces must focus on tracking and disrupting Pakistan-supported terror networks. He referenced recent security incidents near Delhi, warning that such events may be part of a broader destabilisation effort.

Turning to defence preparedness, the former Air Chief stressed the need to strengthen India’s indigenous fighter aircraft programme. He argued against scaling back development efforts following the recent Tejas aircraft accident at a foreign airshow, calling Tejas a “critical requirement” for India’s long-term defence autonomy. While acknowledging delays, he said the aircraft has performed “reasonably well” and emphasised faster production to prevent the Air Force’s squadron strength from declining further.

Raha defended the safety record of Tejas, noting that only two crashes have occurred despite a large number of aircraft in operation. He attributed at least one incident to issues with the imported F404 engine. He also highlighted progress on the Tejas Mark-2 jet, urging continuous development to ensure strategic independence.

Raha concluded by saying that India needs strong intelligence coordination, credible military deterrence, and an unwavering focus on preparedness. He added that India must be ready to tackle threats independently rather than rely on outside assistance.

Source: The Statesman