Raising concerns over a potential alignment of strategic interests among China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has cautioned that such convergence could significantly impact India’s security and regional stability.
The CDS was speaking at the launch of the Observer Research Foundation’s (ORF) Foreign Policy Survey. “There is a possible convergence of interests among China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh that may have implications for India’s stability and security dynamics,” General Chauhan said.
Without singling out any particular country, he noted that economic challenges faced by several Indian Ocean Region (IOR) nations have enabled external powers to expand their influence, an emerging risk for India.
“The IOR has allowed outside powers to leverage their influence through debt diplomacy, creating vulnerabilities for India. Similarly, frequent changes in government across South Asia, accompanied by shifting geopolitical alignments and ideological shifts, pose additional challenges. This convergence of interests among China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh could have serious implications for regional security,” he added.
Highlighting the evolving nature of conflict, General Chauhan emphasized the increasing role of information warfare.
He noted that the spread of misinformation, growing cyber threats, and the militarization of digital platforms are reshaping public perception and eroding trust—factors that are likely to play a growing role in future conflicts.
“The global security situation is currently in flux. The world is transitioning between two international orders. Amid this uncertainty, the US position adds an additional layer of complexity, as we are all aware,” he said.
Addressing Operation Sindoor and China’s involvement, the CDS remarked that there was no indication of unusual movement along India’s northern borders shared with Pakistan, making the extent of China’s role difficult to assess.
“The fourth evolving military challenge is our increasing vulnerability to long-range vectors and precision strikes. There is currently no foolproof defence against ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, cruise missiles, or large-scale drone and loitering munition attacks,” he said.
Referring to Operation Sindoor as a unique military episode, General Chauhan described it as the first direct clash between two nuclear-armed countries. “India will not be deterred by nuclear threats or blackmail. Operation Sindoor is the only known example of a conflict between two nuclear weapon states,” he noted.
“In that sense, Operation Sindoor is unique and may hold lessons not just for the subcontinent, but for the world at large,” he added.
Speaking on India’s nuclear doctrine, he reaffirmed the country’s “No First Use” policy, describing it as a strength that creates strategic space between India and Pakistan. “When India responded by destroying terrorist camps after the terror attack, it was a preventive measure meant to deter future attacks,” he explained.
He further stated that the escalation into the conventional military domain was left in Pakistan’s hands, thus limiting its options to raise the threshold of nuclear conflict.