CDS Chauhan: ‘Peace Without Power Is Utopian’ — Lessons from Operation Sindoor and Future Wars

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Tuesday asserted that while India stands for peace, it cannot afford to be mistaken for pacifism, warning that “peace without power is utopian.”

Speaking at the two-day Ran Samvad conclave at the Army War College, Mhow, General Chauhan said India’s Operation Sindoor—launched after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack—“is still on.”

“India has always stood on the side of peace. We are a peace-loving nation, but don’t get mistaken, we cannot be pacifists… If you want peace, prepare for war,” he said.

The conclave, held on August 26–27, brings military professionals into strategic dialogue. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will deliver the plenary address on Wednesday.

Lessons from Operation Sindoor

General Chauhan described Operation Sindoor as a “modern conflict” that has offered vital takeaways.
“Most of the lessons have been implemented, others are under way. But this seminar is meant to look beyond Sindoor,” he said.

Four Trends Defining Future Wars

The CDS outlined four major shifts shaping future warfare:

1. Rising use of force — short, sharp conflicts being employed to achieve political goals.

2. Blurred lines between war and peace — a continuum of “five Cs”: competition, crisis, confrontation, conflict, and combat.

3. Centrality of people — unlike past wars fought for territory or ideology, today civilian and soldier roles are critical.

4. New victory metrics — no longer about body counts or captured troops, but the speed, tempo, and precision of operations.

Call for a Stronger, Self-Reliant India

Emphasising India’s ambition of becoming a developed nation, General Chauhan said it must also be “Shashastra (armed), Suraksit (secure) and Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant).”

He urged for greater doctrinal awareness across society and stronger synergy among the three armed services.
“At a time when conflict is evolving across land, sea, air, cyber and space, our response must be unified, swift and decisive,” he said.