Overview

• Chauhan said the unresolved boundary with China remains India’s foremost security problem, with Pakistan’s proxy strategy identified as the second major challenge.
• He noted that both adversaries possess nuclear weapons and that cyber and space now shape modern conflict, complicating choices on the scale and type of operations.
• On Operation Sindoor, he said the forces had autonomy over planning and target selection with a directive to destroy terrorist camps and to retaliate only if attacked, aiming to set a clear red line.
• He explained India used air power rather than relying only on drones or loitering munitions to meet political objectives, including strikes on Bahawalpur and Muridke after the Pahalgam attack.
• He credited lessons from Uri, Pulwama and Balakot for shifts toward long‑range precision and post‑strike assessment, said Pakistan likely focused on air defence, and added the NSA guided target choices, deployment and de‑escalation.