Dibrugarh, Aug 30: The Dibrugarh Press Club organised Amar Alohi Chapter-2 at Jagriti Hall on Saturday with IAF Group Captain (Retd) and Sukhoi fighter pilot Mohonto Panging Pao as the chief guest.

Pao, who served 25 years in the Indian Air Force and was the first from the Northeast to command a Sukhoi-30MKI squadron, spoke on “Strategic Importance and Scenario of Northeast India.” He highlighted the region’s vulnerability as it shares borders with four countries, not all of which are friendly.

“This topic is especially important for the Northeast,” Pao told reporters. “We have witnessed conflict with China in 1962 when Chinese forces intruded into Arunachal Pradesh and came close to Assam. Security challenges remain and must be understood by the younger generation.”

He praised the Press Club for raising the issue and urged universities and colleges in the region to encourage such discussions. “Most of the so-called China and Northeast experts are from outside, while local experts with ground knowledge are available here,” he said.

During his career, Pao logged over 3,500 hours of fighter flying and took part in the Kargil operations, Op Parakram, and missions following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Post-retirement, he has turned entrepreneur, social worker, columnist, and writer, establishing Arunachal Pradesh’s first mechanised textile industry and publishing two books on Northeast India and the 1962 Sino-India war.

The programme was attended by Arinjit Hazarika, controller of examinations at Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva Sports University, along with Dibrugarh Press Club president Manash Jyoti Dutta and secretary Ripunjoy Das.

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