Monday, September 5 2005 15:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Shillong: The Indian Air Force has taken steps to protect its infrastructure in the North-eastern region from the al-Qaeda.

Air Marshal F H Major, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command, responsible for air security of the entire Northeast and the eastern region of India, said this when asked to react to media reports about possible threats from the al Qaeda.

"For obvious reasons, we cannot tell you about the precautions we have taken," he said.

Protection of assets and air force installations was one of the main responsibilities of the IAF during peacetime for which security arrangements were in place, he said.

He ruled out an air strike to demolish insurgent's camps in Bangladesh.

The camps in Bangladesh to train ultras did not have much infrastructure and comprised tents, he said, refusing to compare the situation with Israel.

On the question of joint exercise with Myanmar to flush out militants from its soil, the air marshal said some assistance had been given to them and intelligence shared to speed up operations.