Operation Sindoor ongoing, no runners-up in war: CDS Anil Chauhan

New Delhi: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Friday reiterated that Operation Sindoor, launched in early May to dismantle terror infrastructure in Pakistan, remains active and emphasised that India needs to maintain a very high level of readiness. The officer said that India's military must maintain "very high" readiness-24/7 and all year round-citing there are "no runners-up in war".

The CDS said the world is seeing the "third revolution in warfare", marked by rapid technological advances and multi-domain threats across land, sea, air, cyber, space and cognitive arenas. He added that future combatants will no longer be confined to traditional fighting roles but will need to operate as "hybrid warriors"-a fusion of "info warriors", "tech warriors" and "scholar warriors". The CDS was speaking at a seminar organised by the Center of Air Power Studies.

Gen Chauhan highlighted the invisible battlefield of narratives and misinformation, stressing the critical role played by info warriors in shaping public perception and countering psychological warfare. "Modern warfare demands multi-domain mastery, integrating kinetic and non-kinetic methods seamlessly," he said, adding that "The military's future lies in collaborative teams of scholar warriors who bring intellectual rigour alongside practical skills." As the security landscape grows more complex, the CDS warned that failure to adapt risks eroding any nation's defence posture and geopolitical standing.