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Srinagar: In tune with the government's desire to bring the Kashmiri youth to the mainstream and find a lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to launch a recruitment drive from July 10 to ensure that the eligible youth get adequate opportunity to join the ranks of the elite service.

"The aim is to motivate the youth especially in Kashmir and later this year take it to Ladakh, Leh, Kargil, Doda, Jammu and Udhampur and bring them into the mainstream," Air Vice Marshal Fali Homi Major said.

Though nearly 1,100 to 1,200 airmen from the state should ideally be in the IAF, he said at present the strength from the state in the last few years has remained 300 to 400 "which we feel is less."

Stating that in the past response from the state government was not "very encouraging" for recruitment towards IAF, the Air Vice Marshal said "situation is much better today than what it was three to four years back and the state government has cooperated "very well".

"From our side we have gone all out to encourage the youth to make a career in the IAF. We could recruit as many people as possible and there is no restriction," he said.

He said that the Force was hoping to get 1,000 people every day for test during the four-day drive.

PTI