'Have a clearly earmarked exit strategy': CDS Chauhan warns against dangers of prolonged conflict

Days after armed forces marked the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan lauded the forces for their battlefield transparency during the operation. However, he warned against the dangers of getting drawn in prolonged battle.

Speaking at the Manekshaw Centre during an interactive session at the 'Kalam and Kavach' defence conclave, the CDS asserted the importance of having an exit strategy after involving oneself in a conflict.

"We should not fall into this trap of long-duration warfare. There is an increased propensity among nations to use force now. But, after you use force to walk out of that... that is a major challenge," the CDS said.

"Your objectives should be very clear, your politico-military objectives. Once you achieve them, there is no point lingering on. You should have a clearly earmarked exit strategy," he added.

He lauded the forces for having superior situational awareness and better battlefield transparency on all days of the conflict during Operation Sindoor.

"We dominated the escalation matrix on all four days, because we had a superior situational awareness. We knew what we had hit, what was happening," he said in response to a query during the event.

The CDS asserted that Indian forces had situational awareness not only on their own side but also across the border, and that "we were able to dominate every ladder of escalation".

Operation Sindoor was launched early on May 7 last year to avenge the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, with Indian forces conducting precision strikes on multiple terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Pakistan later also launched offensives against India, and all subsequent counter-offensives by India were also carried out under Operation Sindoor.

The military conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, lasting nearly 88 hours, halted after they reached an understanding on the evening of May 10.

(with PTI inputs)