'There's no foolproof air defence': CDS Anil Chauhan warns of a 'fourth evolving military threat' to India

Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan warns that growing alignment of interests among China, Pakistan and Bangladesh may pose serious challenges to India’s internal stability and security environment, urging enhancement of conventional and emerging military capabilities.

Need for domain expansion and armed preparedness
Addressing an event organised by the Observer Research Foundation, General Chauhan stressed the urgency of developing conventional capabilities in newer domains: “The fourth evolving military challenge is increasing vulnerabilities to long-range vectors and long-range precision flights. There is currently no foolproof defence mechanism against ballistic missiles, hypersonics, cruise missiles, and large-scale attack by drones or loitering ammunition.” He emphasised that India must expand its conventional military space and prepare to operate across emerging conflict domains.

Regional convergence raises security concerns

On regional dynamics, Gen. Chauhan said, “There is a possible convergence of interest … between China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh that may have implications for India’s stability and security dynamics.” His remarks come amid deteriorating bilateral ties following the ouster of former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina last August.

IOR debt diplomacy cited as a strategic vulnerability
Gen. Chauhan highlighted economic challenges in the Indian Ocean Region as entry points for external influence: “The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has allowed outside powers to leverage their influence through debt diplomacy, creating vulnerabilities for India. Similarly, frequent shifts in government in South Asia, with changing geopolitical equations and ideological views, pose another major challenge.”

Operation Sindoor: direct nuclear‑armed conflict
Reflecting on the military engagement between India and Pakistan from May 7–10, he said it may represent the first direct clash between two nuclear-armed nations. “India has also said that it will not be deterred by nuclear blackmail. I think Operation Sindoor is the only example of a conflict between two nuclear weapon states,” he stated. He further added, “So Operation Sindoor, in that manner, is slightly unique in itself, and it may hold lessons not only for the subcontinent, but for the entire world.”

Conventional deterrence enabled by no‑first‑use posture
Gen. Chauhan explained that India’s strategic room for conventional response is enabled by its nuclear doctrine. “First is India’s nuclear doctrine, that there’s no first use. I think that gives us strength and that contributes to creating this particular space between us and Pakistan,” he said. He further noted, “When India went to respond, we destroyed terrorist camps in response to the terror attack as part of a prevention strategy… that ought to prevent further attacks.” According to him, “The escalation to a conventional domain was in the hands of Pakistan. Thus, it reduces his option to raise the threshold of this nuclear conflict.”

(With inputs from TOI)