The Indian Air Force is to withdraw its 20 helicopters from the UN peace-keeping missions beginning November this year in a phased manner. Defence Ministry sources said in New Delhi today, 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. The withdrawal will be completed by June next year.AIR correspondent reports 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. The Home Ministry has been seeking enhanced logistical support from the IAF in terms of movement of personnel and casualty evacuation particularly in inhospitable areas. 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.