Operation Sindoor created a huge psychologic impact on Pakistan: CDS General Anil Chauhan

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Tuesday said the long-range precision strikes carried out during the cross-border hostilities in May created “a huge psychological impact” in Pakistan, while confirming that Operation Sindoor has not yet been called off. He was speaking at the inaugural Annual Trident Lecture Series organised by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies.

The CDS said the operation demonstrated a shift in the nature of modern conflict, where wars are becoming shorter and more targeted, aimed at achieving political objectives rather than territorial gains.

Precision strikes over territory capture

Highlighting the strategic goals of Operation Sindoor, General Chauhan said the operation was not aimed at capturing land or prisoners of war. Instead, it relied on carefully selected long-range precision strikes deep inside Pakistan. “The impact was important. Physical was less, but the psychological impact was much more. (India) could hit very, very deep inside with precision,” he said.

“It created a huge impact psychologically, displaying sophistication and superiority. This is the matrix of victory today, it has nothing to do with territory. This is how domination is changing,” he added.

Warfare and politics increasingly linked
The CDS underscored the growing link between political goals and military strategy. “War and politics are closely related. Wars are often fought to achieve political purposes. Today, we see very short, precise wars – like in Operation Sindoor – where political goals are achieved through rapid and targeted action,” he said.

Need for jointness, adaptability and readiness
General Chauhan said the Indian armed forces must adapt quickly to disruptive technologies, revise outdated structures, and prioritise integration across the Army, Navy, and Air Force to effectively respond to emerging threats. He noted that “domination” in today’s warfare is achieved more through psychological and technological superiority than physical control.

He also stressed the importance of maintaining a constant state of operational preparedness, in line with new strategic norms laid down by the government. On the issue of cross-border terrorism, the CDS said it would continue to receive an appropriate response from India and warned that terrorists can no longer find safe haven within Pakistan.

(With inputs from TOI)