New Delhi: Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan delivered a firm message on the nature of modern warfare while addressing newly commissioned officers at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal. Speaking at the Combined Graduation Parade of the Autumn Term in December 2025, he said conflicts are not decided by slogans or symbolic gestures but by clear intent, disciplined planning and purposeful action, a remark widely seen as a pointed message to Pakistan.
General Chauhan stressed that empty rhetoric has little value on the battlefield. He said genuine military strength flows from professionalism, institutional discipline and the ability to execute decisions decisively. Referring to recent regional developments, he noted that several parts of the world continue to suffer from instability driven by weak institutions and reactive decision making. Such fragility, he observed, often results in prolonged insecurity and conflict.
Contrasting this environment, the Chief of Defence Staff highlighted India’s institutional resilience. He said the country’s democratic stability and the professionalism of its armed forces form the foundation of national security. According to him, the credibility of the Indian military rests on its capacity to adapt to changing threats while remaining anchored in strong values and organisational discipline. He reminded the graduating officers that they were inheriting this tradition and would be responsible for preserving it.
Addressing the young officers directly, General Chauhan said they were beginning their careers at a demanding moment. With Operation Sindoor currently underway, he underlined that the responsibility placed on them would be immediate and substantial. He described the prevailing security environment as complex and evolving, requiring constant readiness rather than sporadic responses to crises.
The CDS emphasised that modern military service is defined by sustained preparedness. He urged officers to make alertness and agility part of their daily routine, not just qualities displayed during emergencies. According to him, the ability to remain prepared at all times would determine success in both peace and conflict.
Concluding his address, General Chauhan called on the officers to lead by example. He said vigilance, professionalism and mission focus would define their effectiveness throughout their careers. Victory, he added, should become a habit built through discipline and readiness, not an outcome claimed through words alone.
