CDS Chauhan shows mirror to Pakistan in Singapore, not only India has changed, strategy has also changed…

Singapore: India’s Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan participated in the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore on Friday and showed mirror to Pakistan regarding terrorism. General Chauhan said, not only India has changed, strategy has also changed.

The Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia’s leading defense forum, which is being organized from Friday to Sunday. During this important dialogue, General Chauhan addressed on the topic of ‘Future War and Warfare’. He also participated in a special session, in which he put forth his views on the topic of ‘Defense Innovation Solutions for Future Challenges’.

‘India is ahead today, this is the result of strategy’
According to the news agency, CDS General Chauhan clearly said that India is no longer running without a strategy. If we get only hostility from Pakistan, then keeping distance can be the best strategy. He further said, when we got independence, Pakistan was ahead of us on every scale, from social development, GDP, per capita income. But today India is ahead on every front including economy, human development, social harmony. This is not a coincidence, but the result of strategy.

‘Two hands are needed to clap’
CDS General Chauhan reminded of the diplomatic initiative of 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony. General Chauhan said that but two hands are needed to clap. He said, if we get only hostility in return, then maintaining distance for the time being is also a wise strategy.

During the event organized in Singapore, General Chauhan also held bilateral meetings with senior defense officials and military leaders of many countries including Australia, European Union, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Britain. In these meetings, there was discussion on increasing military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening defense partnership and dealing with common security challenges.

India-US dialogue
CDS General Anil Chauhan met Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) and gave new strength to defense relations. During this, there was an in-depth discussion on increasing cooperation between the two countries, regional security challenges and especially Operation Sindoor. In this meeting, there was a discussion on expanding military-to-military cooperation and new opportunities for partnership in the Indo-Pacific region. In view of the changing regional security scenario, both the leaders reiterated their shared resolve to face the emerging challenges together.

‘China changed strategy’
Representatives of 47 countries are participating in the Shangri-La Dialogue, including more than 40 ministerial-level representatives. According to reports, China is not sending its Defense Minister Dong Jun to the conference this time. Instead, a delegation from the National Defense University of the People’s Liberation Army is participating in the three-day conference. This forum is considered to be a significant change in China’s strategy in recent years. The conference will focus on the ongoing tension between the US and China over Taiwan and maritime rights in the South China Sea.

This is the first time China is not sending its defense minister to this forum after 2019. Also, this is the first time a European leader (French President Macron) has been invited to deliver an opening speech at this security conference.

Emmanuel Macron arrived in Singapore on Thursday. Several events are being organized to mark the completion of 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and France. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will also address the conference on Saturday. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s speech is considered particularly important as he will present the Trump administration’s Indo-Pacific defense policy.

A total of seven plenary sessions and three special sessions are being organized in the three-day conference. The Shangri-La Dialogue has been organised by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) since 2002 to discuss the major security challenges of the Asia-Pacific region. In 2024, 45 countries participated in it.