Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has said, Pakistan’s hurried military and constitutional restructuring after Operation Sindoor was a tacit admission of its serious shortcomings exposed during the conflict. General Chauhan was speaking at the Pune Public Policy Festival yesterday. Addressing a session on “Technology and National Security”, the CDS said, Operation Sindoor launched in May last year after the terror attack in April, forced Pakistan to carry out constitutional amendments, which is an acknowledgement that everything did not go well for the neighbouring nation. General Chauhan said Operation Sindoor is only on pause.
He said, the amendment to Article 243 of the Constitution of Pakistan has brought about significant changes in that country’s higher defence organisation. He pointed out that Pakistan abolished the post of chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and replaced it with a chief of defence forces (CDF). Gen Chauhan said, according to available information, the CDF can be appointed only by the army chief – a move that runs counter to the very principle of jointness. He said, this resulted in an extraordinary concentration of power in a single individual who now oversees land operations, joint operations, strategic forces, and a newly created rocket force.
General Anil Chauhan said, the Indian Armed Forces are transitioning from net-centric to data-centric warfare, with Artificial Intelligence emerging as a critical infrastructure to address future security challenges. He said, advanced sensors and AI technologies are bringing near-total transparency to the battlefield, making surprise increasingly difficult and technological superiority essential for victory. He emphasized that possession of modern technology alone is not sufficient and that military leadership must also be intellectually prepared and adapt its style of functioning to meet evolving challenges.
The Chief of Defence Staff noted that AI-driven drones and autonomous systems will play a significant role alongside human soldiers in future conflicts. He therefore called for greater focus on the development of indigenous drone technologies and robust counter-drone grids.
Policymakers and experts from various sectors across the country are participating in the two-day festival.
