Giving nightmares to Pakistan; Modi reignites Deesa Air Force base begun by Vajpayee but neglected during UPA rule

If Pakistan thinks that this is aimed at that country, then it cannot be blamed for that. What we are speaking about is the upcoming Air Force base at Banaskantha district in Gujarat. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, had laid its foundation stone on his last visit to that state.

The Air Force base is situated just 130 km from the international border and can thwart any threat that might come from the western part, across the border. The strategic importance of this geographical area was first realized during the Vajpayee government, way back in 2000. AB Vajpayee had also given permission for the construction of the base in principle.

However, after the change of guard in New Delhi, the new UPA government neglected the project and it remained in the files. It is unfortunate that a project of utmost importance for national security was abandoned to rot in government files.

In 2017 after a flood at Banaskantha in Gujarat, the discussions about Deesa Air Force once again began. When the then Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, asked the Indian Air Force (IAF) to provide help to the flood-affected area, the IAF informed the minister that bad weather and the absence of an airfield in the region will make the mission difficult.

The IAF officials then brought the Minister’s attention to the project that has been kept in cold storage by the previous government. Their demand was agreed and Nirmala Sitharaman allowed an Rs.1000 crore financial package for the project. Once the fund was allowed, it became sure that within two years a new forward base will be constructed there.

It is sure that once the Deesa Air Force base is fully functional, it will give sleepless nights to Pakistan. With the Deesa base, the Indian Air Force can fill the gap between the forward air bases of Naliya, Bhuj in Gujarat, and Phalodi in Rajasthan.

If a war occurs in the future between India and Pakistan, the fighter jets from the Deesa Air Force base can prevent any attack on the trillion-dollar business hubs of Ahmadabad, Bhavnagar, and Vadodara. When Pakistan launches an attack from Mirpur Khas and Shahbaz airbase the Indian counterattack will be from Deesa airbase.

Moreover, the Deesa airbase can be used to strike Pakistani cities like Karachi, and Sukkur with Deep Penetration Strike aircraft.

As Deesa will be a forward airbase, fighter jets like Rafale will not be deployed here. Instead, defensive fighter jets like MiG 29 and Tejas will be stationed there with the primary mission to prevent air attacks and protect the industrial area of Gujarat.

If Pakistan supports any terrorist attack from the southwestern part of Gujarat, India’s response to Pakistan will be from the Deesa airbase. Moreover, the airbase will also be used to help support any Indian land offensive.

When Deesa becomes fully functional, it would take only two minutes for fighter jets to take off from here and strike terror inside Pakistan. This is what makes the Deesa Air Force base such a nightmare for the Pakistanis.