CDS Gen Anil Chauhan takes veiled dig at Pakistan: ‘Victory not declared by mere rhetoric’

CDS Gen Anil Chauhan (PTI file)

• Gen. Chauhan: Victory requires proof, not just words
• He highlights India's success in Operation Sindoor as proof
• India's defence must adapt to new, disruptive threats

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Chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan on Saturday appeared to take a dig at neighbouring Pakistan while speaking about Operation Sindoor, stating that “victory is not declared by mere rhetoric”. He made the comments while reviewing India’s defence preparedness and underscoring the importance of bolstering national security mechanisms.

Addressing the opening session of the ‘JAI Se Vijay’ seminar in Pune, General Chauhan referred to India’s success in Operation Sindoor – India’s strikes in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack – and stressed that the “actual vijay lies in demonstrated evidence”. He pointed towards the need for a "sober assessment" of India's defence system in view of emerging and future challenges.

Though he did not directly mention Pakistan, the CDS referred to the losses it incurred during India’s May counterterror offensive.

“With respect to the defence forces, victory is not declared by mere rhetoric. As some entities in our neighbourhood have done so, but demonstrated through evidence, like what we showcased during Operation Sindoor. A sense of victory cannot be built on demolished terror infrastructure, damaged runways, crippled airfields, and dysfunctional air defence systems. Such kinds of victories or slogans do not endure. Actual Vijay lies in demonstrated evidence rather than verifiable outcomes,” the CDS said.

Flagging emerging risks, Anil Chauhan asserted that India’s defence strategy for the next ten years should be grounded in a clear-eyed evaluation of new and growing threats.

"Why this is important is because currently, India's defence posture for the next decade is required to be shaped by a sober assessment of what lies ahead, what kind of challenges lie ahead. And I believe it's increasingly becoming very competitive, confrontational, combative, fragile, and technologically very disruptive," he added.

Elaborating on the theme 'JAI Se Vijay', Gen Chauhan said that in modern times, victory cannot rest on rhetoric or symbolic claims but must be grounded in "demonstrated evidence and verifiable outcomes." He cautioned that destruction of infrastructure or damage to airfields alone does not constitute enduring victory.