Pune

Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan on Saturday underlined the need for strengthening India’s defence preparedness, asserting that a sense of victory cannot be built on “dysfunctional air defence systems” or rhetorical claims.

Addressing the opening session of the JAI Se Vijay seminar here, General Chauhan referred to India’s success in Operation Sindoor, stressing that true victory lies in “demonstrated evidence and verifiable outcomes,” not slogans.

“With respect to defence forces, victory is not declared by mere rhetoric, as some entities in our neighbourhood have done, but by evidence, as we showcased during Operation Sindoor. A sense of victory cannot be built on demolished terror infrastructure, damaged runways, crippled airfields or dysfunctional air defence systems. Such victories do not endure,” the CDS said.

Highlighting the evolving strategic environment, he said India’s defence posture for the next decade must be shaped by a sober and realistic assessment of future challenges.
“India’s security environment is becoming increasingly competitive, confrontational, fragile and technologically disruptive. We must prepare accordingly,” he added.

General Chauhan also observed that traditional assumptions about permanent friends or adversaries are becoming unreliable in a rapidly changing global order.
“In today’s world, it is difficult to define who your friends, allies or adversaries are. India must therefore be prepared—mentally, structurally and materially—to act independently when required,” he said.

While emphasising that partnerships remain important, the CDS cautioned that they cannot substitute for indigenous capability or freedom of national choice. Strengthening domestic capacities, he said, is essential to ensure strategic autonomy.

Elaborating on the theme JAI Se Vijay, General Chauhan said modern victory must be grounded in proof and outcomes rather than symbolic claims. He reiterated that destruction of infrastructure alone does not constitute lasting success.

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Referring to the Prime Minister’s articulation of JAI as an acronym for Jointness, Aatmanirbharta and Innovation, the CDS said the concept today represents freedom from foreign dependency and a colonial mindset.
“It is not just victory over an adversary, but also victory over inertia, prejudice and institutional comfort,” he said.