India's Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, alongside Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, inaugurated the beautification work and museum of the Gorkha War Memorial in Gorakhpur on Friday. This project, costing 450 million rupees, aims to honor the sacrifices of Gorkha soldiers while strengthening the cultural and historical ties between India and Nepal.
Addressing a session on 'Security Challenges Facing India', CDS Anil Chauhan asserted that war and geopolitics cannot be viewed separately, describing war as a means to achieve political ambitions. He also referenced a military skirmish with Pakistan in May.
General Chauhan shared insights from ‘Operation Sindhur,’ emphasizing the freedom they had in planning attacks and selecting targets. The operation's aim extended beyond avenging the Pahalgam terrorist attack; it was about defining our tolerance threshold. This multi-domain operation included cyber warfare, highlighting the critical coordination and joint mobilization among military wings.
Indian Army Prepared to Respond to Pakistani Aggressions: CDS General Anil Chauhan
Post-Balakot, India Redefined War Strategies
General Anil Chauhan pointed out that both India and Pakistan gleaned lessons from the Balakot airstrikes. India focused on precise long-range strikes, whereas Pakistan likely emphasized its air defense. During the surgical strikes post-Uri attack, India infiltrated terrorist camps via land routes in Pakistan. Following Pulwama, we executed airstrikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, escalating our precision strike abilities by the time of the Pahalgam attack.
General Chauhan remarked on the strategic use of lower airspace planned to surprise and execute restrained strikes, concluding through political discussions that drones alone wouldn’t achieve political ends. Airstrikes on Bahawalpur and Muridke terrorist camps became necessary, demanding political support and discretion. Operation Sindhur benefited from both, delivering a clear message — destroy terrorist camps but retaliate only under direct aggression.
The Ongoing 'Operation Sindhur'… Knowledge of Weapons and Warfare Essential, Says CDS General Anil Chauhan
He reiterated a German political scientist’s view: war is an extension of politics, asserting that war and geopolitics are intertwined. In democracies, forces operate under political leadership, tasked with safeguarding national interests through force if necessary. A military officer like myself has dual duties: providing the government broader options in force application and fostering government trust in its military for significant decision-making. You’re all familiar with the Galwan and Balakot airstrikes — subsequent to these, the government approved emergency procurement of necessary equipment for the forces.
China Border Dispute: India's Prime Challenge
Highlighting challenges, General Chauhan stated, 'Challenges facing nations are perpetual, manifesting differently over time. I believe the border dispute with China is India’s foremost challenge and will persist. Another significant challenge is Pakistan's proxy warfare strategy, intended to bleed India through a thousand cuts. Regional instability is also concerning, with nearly all neighboring countries grappling with social, political, and economic unrest. The battlegrounds too have evolved, now integrating cyber and space domains. Both adversaries (China and Pakistan) possess nuclear capabilities, and strategizing operations against them is fraught with challenges.'
We Shot Down Pakistani Drones, Focus now on Lower Space Battles…, Says CDS Anil Chauhan
CDS Chauhan Lists Four Major National Threats
General Anil Chauhan described national security as a vast and pivotal topic. Perspectives vary: an ambassador prioritizes bilateral and multilateral relations, while an economist focuses on economic aspects. Wearing this uniform for 44 years affords me a distinct view. India’s most noted realist strategist, Acharya Chanakya, identified four types of national threats in ‘Arthashastra’: internal threats, external threats from enemy nations, internal threats supported by external entities, and external threats backed by internal parties. This underscores the importance of national security against both internal and external perils.
