In a significant strategic evaluation, India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, has described Pakistan’s recent constitutional amendments as a “tacit admission” of the institutional failures it faced during Operation Sindoor. Delivering a keynote address on Friday, January 9, 2026, at the Pune Public Policy Festival hosted by the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, the CDS asserted that the hurried legal changes in Islamabad were a direct response to deficiencies exposed during the 2025 conflict.
General Chauhan noted that Operation Sindoor—launched in May 2025 following a terror attack in Pahalgam—remains “on pause” rather than concluded. He highlighted that the subsequent amendments to Article 243 of the Pakistani Constitution reflect an urgent attempt to rectify a command structure that struggled under the pressure of India’s precise, multi-domain response.
Structural Centralization and the Erosion of Jointness
The CDS detailed several critical shifts in Pakistan’s higher defense organization that have emerged in the wake of the conflict:
- Abolition of the CJCSC: The post of Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, designed to facilitate coordination between the army, navy, and air force, has been scrapped.
- The New CDF Role: In its place, the office of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) was established. However, General Chauhan pointed out that the CDF is reportedly appointed by the Chief of Army Staff, which he argued contradicts the fundamental principle of “jointness” and inter-service equality.
- Concentration of Power: The Army Chief now wields unprecedented authority, overseeing land operations, joint maneuvers via the CDF, and the nation’s strategic nuclear assets simultaneously.
- The Rocket Forces Command: The creation of a dedicated Army Rocket Forces Command and a National Strategy Command suggests a “land-centric mindset” that prioritizes army dominance over a balanced tri-service approach.
India’s Strategic Refinement and Global Shifts
Contrasting these developments with India’s trajectory, General Chauhan confirmed that the Indian Armed Forces are actively integrating lessons from Operation Sindoor, as well as the Galwan and Balakot engagements. He stated that the process of establishing Integrated Theatre Commands is in its final stages, with a government-mandated completion deadline of May 30, 2026.
General Chauhan also emphasized that modern warfare is increasingly driven by technology rather than geography. He revealed that India is implementing a real-time mechanism to counter disinformation and fake news, a challenge that was notably prevalent during Operation Sindoor when false reports of pilot captures and base attacks circulated on social media. This new system aims to provide verified information to citizens in near real-time to maintain domestic and operational stability.
