<p>The "phased withdrawal" of the choppers from three peace-keeping missions in Africa will be completed by June next year, Defence Ministry sources told PTI here.</p>.<p>The de-induction decision was taken after the IAF found itself hard-pressed for choppers while extending logistical help to paramilitary forces in anti-naxal operations, they said.<br /><br />IAF's medium-lift MI-17 and MI-8 choppers are deployed in three African countries including Congo and Sudan and help in transportation of UN troops and equipment there.<br /><br />The Home Ministry has been seeking enhanced logisitical support from the IAF in terms of movement of personnel and casualty evacuation particularly in inhospitable areas.<br /><br />The IAF had told the government that if it were to assist in anti-naxal operations, it would require more helicopters, following which the clearance was given for calling back the choppers.<br /><br />The Defence forces are not inclined to get involved in combat operations against Naxals fearing collateral damage and want to leave it to police and paramilitary forces.<br /><br />At the same time, the IAF has kept four MI-17s in Raipur on standby in case these may be required for evacuation purposes in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.<br /><br />The IAF has a fleet of around 150 medium-lift Mi-17 and Mi-8 helicopters, which are used for maintenance of troops in high altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir and North East and to carry out relief and rescue missions during natural disasters. </p>
<p>The "phased withdrawal" of the choppers from three peace-keeping missions in Africa will be completed by June next year, Defence Ministry sources told PTI here.</p>.<p>The de-induction decision was taken after the IAF found itself hard-pressed for choppers while extending logistical help to paramilitary forces in anti-naxal operations, they said.<br /><br />IAF's medium-lift MI-17 and MI-8 choppers are deployed in three African countries including Congo and Sudan and help in transportation of UN troops and equipment there.<br /><br />The Home Ministry has been seeking enhanced logisitical support from the IAF in terms of movement of personnel and casualty evacuation particularly in inhospitable areas.<br /><br />The IAF had told the government that if it were to assist in anti-naxal operations, it would require more helicopters, following which the clearance was given for calling back the choppers.<br /><br />The Defence forces are not inclined to get involved in combat operations against Naxals fearing collateral damage and want to leave it to police and paramilitary forces.<br /><br />At the same time, the IAF has kept four MI-17s in Raipur on standby in case these may be required for evacuation purposes in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.<br /><br />The IAF has a fleet of around 150 medium-lift Mi-17 and Mi-8 helicopters, which are used for maintenance of troops in high altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir and North East and to carry out relief and rescue missions during natural disasters. </p>