CDS speaks out on Op Sindoor—from nuclear to losses & disinformation to Chinese role

The Print

2 days ago

'At independence, Pakistan was ahead by many metrics; today, India leads in GDP, social harmony, and development. That progress reflects a long-term strategy. Diplomatic outreach has occurred—such as the PM's 2014 invitation to Nawaz Sharif—but reciprocation is lacking. In such cases, strategic disengagement is itself a considered response,' he said.
He also spoke on India-Pakistan relationship and rejected the idea of 'strategic aimlessness'.
New Delhi: Underlining that India retained full operational clarity and autonomy during Operation Sindoor regardless of broader geopolitical currents, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan said what unfolded was a non-contact, multi-domain conflict involving both kinetic and non-kinetic elements which exemplifies the future of warfare.
Addressing military leaders from across the world at the IISS-organised Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in a closed door session Friday, he said the military is seen as a rational actor when it comes to nuclear escalation and added that nuclear escalation in undeclared wars was illogical.
He said that prolonged mobilisation without combat imposes a significant cost. 'That's why India disengages swiftly post-operations. Prolonged wars hinder national development—something adversaries may aim to disrupt,' he said talking about the short and swift conflict.
Importantly, in his address, the CDS noted that while Pakistan may have leveraged Chinese commercial satellite imagery, there is no proof of real-time targeting support. This is significant because the CDS has said that what was available to Pakistan was commercial satellite pictures and not any active Chinese military inputs.
'India, by contrast, relied on indigenous systems like Akash, achieving success through effective system networking, integrating both domestic and foreign radars into a cohesive defence structure,' he said.
He also spoke about the disinformation warfare unleashed by the Pakistani military and noted that '15 percent of operational time was spent countering fake narratives, underlining the need for a dedicated information warfare vertical'.
'India's strategy emphasized fact-based communication even at the cost of slower responses. Initially, two women officers served as spokespeople while the senior leadership was engaged in operations. Only after the 10th May did the DGMOs brief the media,' he said.
The CDS also spoke on losses and said 'no war is without cost—but what matters is how one responds. India responded effectively within three days, without further escalation'
On the issue of automation and robotics, Gen Chauhan warned that reducing the human cost of war may increase the likelihood of conflict escalation. 'When fewer lives are at risk, decision-makers may act more aggressively. This shift presents serious ethical and strategic challenges,' he said.
The CDS noted that the modern warfare is undergoing a complex convergence—of tactics, domains (land, air, sea, cyber, space), time frames and strategies.
On the issue of cyber operations, he said it played a limited role. 'While there were some denial-of-service attacks, India's air-gapped military systems remained secure. Public platforms faced minor disruptions, but operational systems were unaffected,' he said.
Regarding space and satellite intelligence, he reiterated that commercial access is available to all. 'India relied on its own capabilities, while adversaries may have sought help from allies—but real-time coordination remains unconfirmed.'
Gen Chauhan pointed out that India's focus on indigenous platforms, like Akash, and self-reliant networking infrastructure has paid off. Integration of diverse radars into a unified air defence system was a key success, he underlined.
Turning to the Indian Ocean Region, particularly the northern Bay of Bengal, where geography and geopolitics constrain India's movement north (due to China) and east (due to Myanmar), he said the sea becomes India's strategic outlet.
'Though continental, India functions like an island nation, with its island territories providing depth. New concerns have emerged, but the view is expanding southward to secure broader maritime interests,' he said.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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