The Chief of Defence Staff, General NS Raja Subramani, told NDTV’s CEO Rahul Kanwal and senior editors at the Defence Summit that India is not letting its guard down on the frontiers with China and Pakistan. He spoke amid a packed agenda that also covered artificial intelligence, integrated theatre commands and the Mecca pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey.
But the star of the day was the assessment of the China‑India frontier. General Subramani said the situation is "quite stable" and that there is no cause for concern. He cited the recent meetings between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BRICS summit, noting that ground‑level contacts between the two armies continue regularly.
Turning to the Pakistan border, the General reiterated that India’s defence posture remains vigilant. He highlighted the integrated approach that combines the army, navy, air force, police and intelligence agencies. "We are not letting our guard down," he said, adding that deterrence hinges on quick, decisive responses.
The General also brushed over the future of warfare, stressing that the Army, Navy and Air Force must operate in a unified, capability‑integrated fashion. He referenced Operation Sindoor as a success story of joint planning and execution.
What comes next? The Chief of Defence Staff announced plans to conduct a series of joint exercises along the western and northern borders within the next three months, a move that will test the readiness of the integrated commands he has been building.