General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces, visited the Headquarters of the Western Air Command (WAC) today for high-level operational discussions with Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of WAC. The visit underscored the Indian Armed Forces’ commitment to enhancing joint preparedness and synergized air operations in response to evolving security challenges along India’s western borders.

During the visit, General Chauhan interacted with the WAC team, commending their professionalism and pivotal role in the recently concluded Operation Sindoor. The operation, executed on May 8, 2025, was a significant demonstration of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) capabilities, successfully neutralizing critical Pakistani air defense radars and military installations, including a key facility near Lahore, in a mere 23 minutes. The mission, which involved advanced electronic warfare tactics and indigenous technologies like the Akash missile system and Barak-8, was a response to escalating cross-border terror attacks and drone strikes by Pakistan on Indian cities such as Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, and Bhuj.

General Chauhan highlighted the IAF’s critical role in integrated operations, noting that Operation Sindoor marked a milestone in India’s defense capabilities. He emphasized the importance of “jointness and integration” among the Army, Navy, and Air Force, a strategic priority for the Indian military as it faces multifaceted threats from neighboring countries like Pakistan and China. The visit reaffirmed the armed forces’ focus on unified command structures and coherent operational planning across domains, including land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace.

Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, who assumed the role of AOC-in-C of WAC on January 1, 2025, briefed the CDS on the command’s ongoing efforts to strengthen India’s airspace defense. Mishra, a seasoned fighter pilot with over 3,000 flying hours, has been instrumental in advancing the IAF’s operational readiness, drawing on his extensive experience in roles such as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) and Commandant of the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE).

The discussions also touched on the integration of air defense systems between the IAF and the Indian Army, a key step toward achieving operational synergy. Recent joint exercises like Exercise Kavach and upcoming tri-service formats of Vayu Shakti reflect the military’s commitment to coordinated responses, despite challenges in achieving full jointness, including historical resistance from the IAF due to differing operational priorities.

Operation Sindoor’s success has been attributed to the deployment of MiG-29K fighters, alongside advanced countermeasures like GPS spoofing, jamming, and EMP technologies, which effectively bypassed Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied air defense systems. The operation not only showcased India’s technological prowess but also highlighted the growing role of indigenous innovations, such as the “Indrajaal” drone dome developed by Hyderabad-based Grene Robotics, in countering modern threats like drone swarms.

General Chauhan’s visit comes at a time when India is intensifying efforts to bolster its defense capabilities, with a focus on self-reliance and inter-service collaboration. The CDS reiterated the government’s support for these initiatives, aligning with the broader vision of a unified military command structure to address contemporary security challenges.

In a landmark move aimed at reshaping India’s defence strategy, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today unveiled a new book authored by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. Titled Ready, Relevant and Resurgent: A Blueprint for the Transformation of India’s Military, the book sets forth a comprehensive vision for modernizing the Indian Armed Forces to face the demands of 21st-century warfare.

The launch event, held in New Delhi, highlighted the government’s continued focus on military reform, jointness, and indigenization. In his address, Defence Minister Singh lauded General Chauhan’s detailed articulation of reforms needed for a unified and efficient defence structure, emphasizing the urgency of enhanced integration among the Army, Navy, and Air Force to counter modern-day threats.

The book delves into the fundamental pillars of military transformation—jointness, integration, and self-reliance—while aligning the armed forces with India’s larger national goal of becoming a developed country by 2047, known as Viksit Bharat. Through a collection of essays and insights, General Chauhan proposes a reformed Higher Defence Organisation and outlines actionable steps to boost operational synergy and strategic preparedness.

Serving as CDS since September 2022, General Chauhan brings decades of experience in operational command and strategic planning. He has consistently advocated for reforms such as integrated theatre commands, shared logistics infrastructure, and common communication platforms. His vision, presented in the book, seeks to balance operational excellence with the evolving security needs of a rapidly changing world.

The timing of the book’s release is significant, as India intensifies efforts under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to reduce reliance on foreign defence imports and bolster indigenous defence production. It also comes in the wake of strategic-level guidance offered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2023 Combined Commanders Conference, where he urged the forces to prepare for future security scenarios. Similarly, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi’s recent push for a transformative roadmap toward a future-ready Army by 2047 finds strong resonance in the themes presented in the book.

The event saw participation from senior military leadership, defence scholars, and strategic analysts, who welcomed the publication as a timely and insightful contribution to India’s security discourse. Ready, Relevant and Resurgent is expected to serve as a reference point for policymakers and military planners as India works toward a technologically advanced, integrated, and resilient defence structure.

Indian intelligence agencies have foiled a major terror plot in the national capital by arresting two individuals allegedly linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Among the suspects is Ansarul Miya Ansari, a Pakistani asset who had reportedly entered India through Nepal with the objective of gathering classified military information to aid in a planned terrorist strike.

The operation, which began in January 2025, was based on an intelligence lead suggesting that a foreign agent would soon infiltrate Indian territory via the porous Indo-Nepal border. Ansari was apprehended in central Delhi on February 15 while in possession of sensitive military documents. Authorities believe he was preparing to exit India using the same route he had entered. His arrest led to the immediate registration of a case under the Official Secrets Act.

Ansari’s alleged accomplice, Akhlaque Azam, a resident of Ranchi, was arrested in March. He is accused of providing logistical support to the ISI agent. Forensic analysis of their mobile devices revealed incriminating communication with Pakistan-based handlers, indicating a broader espionage network under investigation.

Officials revealed that the intelligence Ansari was collecting — including photographs, documents, and geolocation data of Indian military installations — was intended to support an ISI-backed terror strike in Delhi. The plan was still in its early stages, but authorities believe the information was crucial for planning and execution.

According to the interrogation records and court filings, Ansari, originally from Nepal, worked as a taxi driver in Qatar since 2008. He was allegedly recruited and radicalised by ISI operatives during a month-long visit to Pakistan in June 2024. During his stay, he was introduced to senior Pakistani Army officers and indoctrinated using topics like the Babri Masjid demolition and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Investigators are also probing the possible involvement of ISI officers Muzammil and Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, who are reportedly linked to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Intelligence sources claim that these individuals were attempting to influence Indian YouTubers and social media influencers as part of a broader disinformation and recruitment campaign.

The arrests have once again highlighted the persistent threat posed by cross-border espionage and terror networks. Security agencies have intensified surveillance along international borders and are continuing their crackdown on sleeper cells operating within India.

Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to protecting national security and preempting any attempts to destabilize the country through foreign-backed subversion.

In a remarkable display of courage and competence, 3,000 Agniveers—young soldiers aged barely 20 and recruited under the Agnipath scheme—stood at the frontlines of India’s air defence during the intense four-day Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. These Agniveers, trained within the last two years, were deployed across India’s western front and played a crucial role in thwarting Pakistan’s aggressive aerial assault involving missiles, drones, and loitering munitions between May 7 and 10, 2025.

Operating in critical trades such as gunners, fire control operators, radio operators, and missile transport drivers, the Agniveers manned advanced weapon systems, including upgraded L-70s, Pechora, Schilka, OSA-AK, Strela, and the Akash surface-to-air missile system. Many of them took down targets using shoulder-fired missiles and manned integrated nodes of the newly inducted Akashteer system—India’s indigenous air defence control and reporting network.

Akashteer, which forms a vital layer of the army’s air defence grid, allowed seamless detection, tracking, and interception of enemy threats. It was fully integrated with the Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), enabling fast and coordinated retaliation. This integration helped neutralize attacks aimed at strategic locations including Amritsar, Jammu, Chandigarh, and Bhuj, among others.

The Agniveers not only operated complex systems but also took on multiple roles such as communication handlers and sentries, showcasing their versatility under fire. Despite the short tenure and limited benefits offered under the Agnipath scheme—often a topic of political and public debate—the performance of these recruits during Operation Sindoor earned widespread praise from within the defence establishment. Frontline commanders confirmed their performance matched that of seasoned regulars.

Pakistan’s aerial onslaught, which included Chinese PL-15 missiles and Turkish-origin drones, was repelled in layers by India’s multi-tier air defence shield, which also deployed S-400s and the Samar retaliation system. Pakistan’s attempt to target the Golden Temple in Amritsar was also successfully foiled by India’s defence grid.

Operation Sindoor saw India strike back with precision against nine major terror camps and multiple Pakistani military installations, marking the most devastating blow to Pakistan since the 1971 war. In this historic moment, the Agniveers proved not only the value of their training but also redefined their role in India’s military future.