New Delhi: Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, was a multi-domain, non-contact mission that reflected the changing face of modern warfare, according to Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, General Chauhan revealed that 15% of the operation’s time was spent countering fake narratives and disinformation campaigns, underscoring the growing significance of information warfare in contemporary conflict. The mission, which began with precision strikes on May 7 against terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, incorporated cyber operations, distributed force application, intelligence coordination, and advanced network-centric warfare. India relied heavily on indigenous defence systems like Akash and successfully integrated both domestic and foreign radar networks into a cohesive defence shield. In contrast, Pakistan may have used commercial Chinese satellite imagery, though there is no evidence of real-time targeting support. General Chauhan emphasised that real-time coordination across air, land, and sea is only as effective as the strength of the networks connecting these domains, reigniting the debate over whether cutting-edge technology should reside in weapons, platforms, or integrated systems. He also highlighted the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in warfare but warned that its reliance on open-source data currently limits its battlefield utility. AI, he noted, needs to be embedded into wargaming, intelligence, and operational planning to become truly effective. Addressing strategic relations, General Chauhan stated that India has overtaken Pakistan economically and socially through long-term planning, adding that disengagement may be a sound strategy if diplomatic outreach is met with hostility. He also pointed to the Indian Ocean as India’s strategic outlet amid geographic and geopolitical constraints to the north and east, stemming from tensions with China and instability in Myanmar. On nuclear threats, he dismissed the logic of escalation in undeclared conflicts, noting that no war is without cost. General Chauhan concluded that Operation Sindoor serves as a model for future conflict, where military success depends not only on firepower but also on cyber resilience, strategic communication, and technological integration.
