New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF) was able to hone its skills in carrying out extensive live high altitude precision bombing runs as well as helicopter-borne operations with Army, during the recent military standoff with Pakistan, a top official said on November 13.

The fine-tuning of its expertise during "Operation Parakaram" will be crucial for the IAF in the event of any conflict across the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir, AOC-in-C, Western Air Command, Air Marshal A R Gandhi told reporters on the eve of the three-day station commanders' conference.

During numerous runs, he said the frontline IAF aircraft had scored direct hits on targets.

He said during the almost year-long deployment, aircraft of the Western Air Command had also carried wide-scale photo reconnaissance, used recently acquired Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and satellite imagery in locating and pinpointing enemy radar positions as well as enemy aerial tactics.

IAF sources said it was during this deployment that four Mirage 2000 had swung into action to blast off a Pakistani Army intrusion on an Indian post in Machhil sector on the LoC in the Kashmir valley on July 27 and 28.

Gandhi said it was India's overwhelming strength in air superiority which had deterred Pakistan from carrying out any foolish provocations.

The sources said during the forward deployment, Pakistan had mustered its almost total Air Force strength of 200 fighters in the Northern sector facing Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, emptying the Central sector facing Bhatinda and Sri Ganganagar of air cover.

PTI