Hyderabad, May 9 (UNI) Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy, a former fighter pilot, stated on Friday that if a full-scale war breaks out with Pakistan and the nation needs him, he is ready to fight once again.

Speaking to the media at Gandhi Bhavan, Capt Uttam recalled his service in the Indian Air Force, having joined the defence forces at the age of 16. “In 1982, I flew MiG-21 fighter jets and later worked with the state-of-the-art MiG-23, which flies at 2.5 times the speed of sound,” he said. He served in several sensitive regions, including Leh, Srinagar, and Amritsar, and became a fighter pilot at the young age of 20.

Condemning the April 22 terrorist attack inspired by Pakistan, he described it as a heinous act of killing in the name of religion. “The entire country, including Kashmir, stood united in condemning the attack. The TRF, responsible for the incident, is an affiliate of Lashkar-e-Taiba,” he said.

Capt Uttam praised the Indian military response through Operation Sindoor, highlighting the effective use of Rafale fighter jets and Kamikaze drones. “Rafales operated from the Indian border and sent a strong message to Pakistan’s leadership,” he noted.

Emphasising the need for a permanent resolution, he said, “My personal opinion is that the Kashmir issue will not be resolved until Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is returned to India.”

He also asserted that continued aggression could lead to Pakistan’s collapse and that it was unlikely any third country would come forward to intervene.

“If needed, I will not hesitate to fight again for the country,” Capt. Uttam declared.

UNI VV ARN