‘Both sides displayed a lot of rationality’: CDS Anil Chauhan dismisses nuclear fears during Op Sindoor

CDS General Anil Chauhan

India dismissed any fears over the recent conflict with Pakistan escalating to a nuclear war, saying a lot of “rationality” was displayed by both sides during the fight.

Chief of defence staff Anil Chauhan said most of the strikes were delivered with “pinpoint accuracy” and there was no question of considering nuclear weapons.

"It's my personal view that the most rational people are people in uniform when conflict takes place," he added. "During this operation, I found both sides displaying a lot of rationality in their thoughts as well as actions. So why should we assume that in the nuclear domain there will be irrationality on someone else's part?"

He made the remarks during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore—Asia’s premier defence and security summit hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). General Chauhan is visiting Singapore from May 30 to June 1.

Some of the strikes carried out by India under Operation Sindoor were reportedly near Pakistan's nuclear facilities. However, they themselves were not targeted.

Earlier, Pakistan's chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza, had also said that there was no danger at any time during the conflict that nuclear weapons were considered.

"I think there's a lot of space before that nuclear threshold is crossed, a lot of signalling before that, I think nothing like that happened," Chauhan said. "There's a lot of space for conventional operations which has been created, and this will be the new norm.

In addition, Chauhan said that if hostility from Pakistan persists, disengagement may be a “sound strategy for now.”

Commenting on the India-Pakistan relationship, General Chauhan said, “Now, we are not operating without a strategy.” He also highlighted that India’s rise on the global stage has been the result of deliberate long-term planning, not chance.

He then said that Pakistan was ahead of India at the time of independence in key areas like the economy, social development, and per capita income.

“When we gained independence, Pakistan was ahead of us on every metric, social, economic, GDP per capita. Today, India is ahead on all fronts, economic performance, human development, and social harmony, despite our greater diversity," General Chauhan said.

“That didn’t happen by accident; it’s a result of long-term strategy," he added.

Additionally, he mentioned India’s repeated diplomatic initiatives to improve ties with Pakistan, referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2014 invitation to then-Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his swearing-in ceremony. “India has made sincere efforts,” he said.

However, he underlined that diplomacy requires mutual effort. “It takes two hands to clap. If all we get in return is hostility, then disengagement may itself be a sound strategy for now,” General Chauhan said.