Operation Sindoor forced Pakistan to undertake constitutional amendments, signaling an acknowledgment that the operation did not unfold successfully for the neighbouring country, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan stated.
Speaking about the development of proposed joint theatre commands in India, General Chauhan said on Friday that the Union government has granted an extension for completing the exercise until May 30, 2026. Despite this, the armed forces are aiming to establish the structure well ahead of the deadline. He described the process as one of his key responsibilities and mentioned that it is now in its final stages.
Addressing the Pune Public Policy Festival, General Chauhan clarified that Operation Sindoor is currently on pause and not concluded. He elaborated on the implications of the changes in Pakistan, including hurried constitutional amendments, indicating that the neighbouring country recognized several shortcomings and deficiencies in its operations. “The changes which have been brought about in Pakistan, including the constitutional amendment done hurriedly, are actually an acknowledgement of the fact that everything didn’t go well for them in this operation. They found a lot of shortcomings and deficiencies,” he said.
The amendments primarily concern the constitution of federal customs courts, which is a separate matter in itself, the general added. However, the modifications to Article 243 of Pakistan’s Constitution have brought about significant structural changes in that country’s higher defence organization.
General Chauhan highlighted that these developments are of particular importance to India and its armed forces. The first major change was the abolition of the post of Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, a position initially created to promote jointness among the three services. In its place, Pakistan has established the post of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). Despite this, the new post can only be created with approval from the Chief of Army Staff, which undermines the principle of service-level jointness, he noted.
The second significant change is the creation of a National Strategy Command. From Pakistan’s perspective, this may enhance operational effectiveness. They had previously established an Army Rocket Forces Command, which, combined with the new structures, consolidates power and strengthens conventional and strategic capabilities. General Chauhan explained that the Army Chief will now oversee land operations, joint operations with the Navy and Air Force through the CDF, as well as strategic and nuclear matters. The Rocket Forces Command adds another layer, reflecting a land-centric approach to defence planning.
General Chauhan further clarified that strategic forces primarily refer to nuclear forces and weapons. Several operational lessons from Operation Sindoor necessitated improvements in higher defence organization and command arrangements. Drawing from experiences during Uri surgical strikes, Doklam and Galwan standoffs, the Balakot air strike, and Operation Sindoor, he emphasized that the Indian armed forces have frequently operated through innovative, situation-specific command structures tailored to operational requirements.
He said the ongoing effort is to create a standardized system that will be applicable across all contingencies, ensuring readiness for both conventional and strategic operations. This system aims to integrate lessons learned from past engagements, improving coordination, efficiency, and decision-making within the armed forces.
General Chauhan also underlined that these initiatives are part of broader efforts to enhance operational preparedness and modernize India’s defence capabilities. The armed forces are actively evaluating organizational structures, command protocols, and resource deployment to ensure that future operations, whether strategic, conventional, or nuclear, can be conducted with precision and effectiveness.
He emphasized that Operation Sindoor and similar exercises provide crucial insights into military planning, command structures, and inter-service cooperation. Incorporating these lessons into a standardized system will enable India to maintain a robust and responsive defence posture capable of addressing diverse threats and operational scenarios.
