Create an element of surprise to gain upper hand in war and stay ahead of the enemy: Rajnath Singh

Defense Minister Raj Nath Singh has emphasized the need to be prepared to deal with all kinds of situations in the rapidly changing geographical and political security landscape. He highlighted the importance of strengthening capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, data analytics, and secure communication networks, saying that future conflicts will be influenced by hybrid threats, information dominance, and simultaneous campaigns in cyber, space, and electromagnetic domains.

Addressing commanders on the second and final day of the Combined Commanders' Conference, Mr. Singh described 'Operation Sundor' as a symbol of prompt, accurate, and joint response action for the protection of national interests. He said, "Operation Sundor is evidence of the Indian defense forces' rapid and integrated response to protect national interests." He asked the commanders of the three forces to learn from this campaign and the current global security situation and always be prepared for the future.

The Defense Minister described Operation Sundor as a short-term, deep-penetration, high-intensity, and impactful campaign that demonstrated India's ability to force its enemies to surrender. He described it as a symbol of India's growing strategic capabilities and the nation's collective resolve. Referring to the revolutionary impact of emerging technologies, he emphasized the need to ensure integrated national preparedness in all aspects of conflicts.

He praised the coordination, integration, and technological development between the three forces, saying that future wars will be won not just with weapons, but with innovative thinking and better coordination. Raj Nath Singh urged commanders to create an "element of surprise" in war so that they remain unpredictable to enemies and gain strategic advantage. At the same time, he warned that they must also be vigilant against the enemy's surprise actions and always stay two steps ahead.

He reiterated the government's commitment to equipping the defense forces with the latest weapons and platforms. During the conference, the Defense Minister released a documentary film based on Operation Sundor. In addition, he also launched the Hindi edition of "Vision 2047" and the "Joint Communications Framework Concept", which aims to strengthen theoretical clarity and integrated communications in future multi-domain operations.

The conference, themed "Military Capability in New Domains", was attended by the top leadership of the Ministry of Defense and the Indian defense forces. The conference featured in-depth discussions on emerging security challenges, cyber security against quantum and artificial intelligence-based threats, indigenous innovations, and future warfighting concepts. Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan, the heads of the three forces, and other senior military and civilian officials were also present on the occasion.