Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Ex-CDS Chauhan Warns Pakistan Will Remain Major Security Threat
Anil Chauhan, a former leader of India’s armed forces, discussed threats facing India.
He said Pakistan would remain a serious security concern for a long time.
He warned that Pakistan’s new defence agreements could make it overconfident.
That overconfidence might lead Pakistan to make another dangerous mistake.
Chauhan said terrorism and proxy warfare remain important threats.
He also said China is a long-term challenge because the border is still unresolved.
India, he argued, should make hostile actions more costly through credible deterrence.
He said future armies must work together across land, sea, air, cyber and space.
He also stressed that military forces must learn and adapt faster than their opponents.
Former CDS Anil Chauhan called Pakistan a major long-term security concern for India.
He warned defence agreements involving Pakistan could encourage overconfidence and miscalculation.
Chauhan described China as a comprehensive long-term challenge with unresolved border issues.
He said terrorism, proxy warfare and cross-border activity would remain major challenges.
He urged India to strengthen military integration across traditional and emerging domains.
- Who
- Former Chief of the Defence Staff Anil Chauhan and India’s armed forces.
- What
- Chauhan assessed India’s security threats, warning that Pakistan would remain a major concern and outlining future military challenges.
- When
- He made the remarks on September 5; the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed on August 7.
- Where
- At the Teen Murti Bhawan complex in New Delhi, during the 22nd Bharat Ratna Pt Govind Ballabh Pant Memorial Lecture.
- Why
- He said unresolved borders, terrorism, proxy warfare, non-state actors and competition across cyber, space and maritime domains threaten India’s security.
- Speaker
- Former CDS Anil Chauhan
- Main warning
- Pakistan will remain a major security concern and threat for years to come.
- Defence agreement
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7.
- Agreement provision
- An attack against one signatory is to be treated as an attack against all three.
- China assessment
- China presents a long-term and comprehensive challenge, with the boundary issue unresolved.
- Operation Sindoor
- The operation was conducted in May last year while Chauhan was Chief of the Defence Staff.
- Recommended response
- India should build credible deterrence and integrate capabilities across military and emerging domains.