Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan stated that India faces significant security challenges, primarily from nuclear-armed adversaries and unresolved border disputes with China. Addressing a program in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, he identified these as primary concerns. He also highlighted the ongoing ‘proxy war’ and the strategy of inflicting ‘a thousand cuts’ by Pakistan as another major challenge. Furthermore, he pointed out regional instability and the need to prepare for technologically advanced future warfare scenarios as significant challenges.
General Chauhan emphasized the necessity to prepare for conventional warfare, given the threat posed by two nuclear-armed adversaries. He also discussed Operation Sindoor, stating that the armed forces were given full freedom to execute the operation, aimed at retaliating against the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and drawing a line against cross-border terrorism. The operation targeted terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The seminar on national security challenges was held at the Gorakhnath Temple, attended by CDS Anil Chauhan and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The seminar is an annual event held on the death anniversaries of Mahant Digvijay Nath and Mahant Avaidyanath.
In his address, CDS General Chauhan said that the unresolved border dispute with China is a major challenge and the proxy war by Pakistan is the second biggest challenge. He added that Pakistan’s strategy is to keep inflicting wounds on India. He also mentioned that the third major security challenge is regional instability, with many of India’s neighboring countries facing social, political, and economic unrest, which also affects India. He further elaborated on the need to prepare for future warfare, which will not be limited to land, air, and water, but will also include space, cyber, and electromagnetic fields. The fifth challenge he noted was the presence of nuclear weapons with both adversaries, while the sixth challenge is the impact of technology on future warfare.