Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd) on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, stressed the urgent need to upgrade Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) and air connectivity infrastructure across the strategically sensitive border state, citing imperatives of logistics, communication, emergency response, and broader socio-economic development. The remarks came during a high-level meeting at Lok Bhavan in Itanagar with Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command.

Key Developments From the Itanagar Meeting

The two officials discussed a wide agenda covering national security, the operational status of ALGs, and the Indian Air Force's (IAF) role in responding to natural calamities and medical emergencies. Governor Parnaik commended the Eastern Air Command for its sustained support to the people of Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in crisis situations involving floods, landslides, and medical evacuations.

He noted that the IAF has consistently reached remote and inaccessible pockets of the state where timely intervention can be the difference between life and death. 'The Indian Air Force has been instrumental in airlifting relief materials, rescuing stranded civilians, and evacuating affected persons to safer locations,' the Governor said, according to reports from the meeting.

Why ALGs Matter for Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,129-kilometre international boundary with China and borders Myanmar and Bhutan, making its aerial infrastructure of direct strategic importance. The state's rugged, mountainous terrain renders road connectivity unreliable, particularly during the monsoon season when landslides frequently cut off entire districts. ALGs — several of which date to the Second World War — serve as critical nodes for both civilian air access and military rapid deployment.

This comes amid continued infrastructure push along India's northeastern frontier, where both the Centre and the armed forces have been accelerating dual-use connectivity projects. Strengthening ALGs has been a recurring recommendation in parliamentary and defence committee reports over the past decade, though execution has been uneven.

Youth Outreach and Career Awareness

Recognising Arunachal Pradesh's demographic potential, Governor Parnaik encouraged the Eastern Air Command to expand outreach to the state's youth through career awareness programmes, NCC engagement, air displays, and educational visits to IAF facilities. The initiative is aimed at channelling the aspirations of a young population living in one of India's most geographically isolated states into structured opportunities within the armed forces.

India-Myanmar Joint Training Exercise

Separately, the Eastern Air Command, in a post on X, confirmed that Indian and Myanmar Defence Forces personnel conducted a joint training exercise using IAF helicopters in the Eastern Area of Responsibility (AOR). The command stated: 'This was aimed at enhancing operational coordination, interoperability and jointmanship. The training underscores the enduring bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two nations and their Armed Forces.' The exercise signals continued bilateral defence engagement between India and Myanmar even as the latter navigates a complex internal security environment.

Eastern Air Command's Commitment

Air Marshal Walia assured the Governor of the Eastern Air Command's commitment to supporting Arunachal Pradesh across disaster response, medical emergencies, connectivity, and broader nation-building. He reaffirmed that the IAF would continue to work in close coordination with the state government to ensure timely assistance and contribute to the welfare, development, and security of the state. With border infrastructure investment intensifying and the IAF's northeastern footprint expanding, the trajectory points toward a more integrated civil-military approach to the region's unique challenges.