Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan said that the military is a direct extension of political will. According to him, a country’s political interests are paramount, while the armed forces are one of several instruments available to protect those interests.
Speaking about the relationship between national security and democratic governance, the former CDS said, “Let us begin with the fact that politics and war are not separate. Clausewitz said that war is the continuation of politics by other means.”
General Anil Chauhan made the remarks on Tuesday in New Delhi during a discussion on Operation Sindoor and its aftermath, organised by the Vivekananda International Foundation.
War and Politics Are Not Separate
General Chauhan referred to the famous observation by Prussian military strategist Carl von Clausewitz that war is a means of advancing political objectives through other means.
He said that the political interests of a country remain supreme, while the armed forces are only one of several instruments used to safeguard those interests.
Clausewitz’s book ‘On War’ (Vom Kriege) is considered one of the foundational works of modern Western military theory. The book was published posthumously in 1832 by his wife, Marie von Brühl. Clausewitz had participated in campaigns against Napoleon.
Providing Military Options to the Government Is the Army’s Responsibility
General Chauhan said that in a democracy, when the government decides to use force to achieve its political objectives, the military has two key responsibilities.
- Provide military options to the government so that it can achieve its political objectives.
- Build confidence within the government, allowing it to choose from the widest possible range of options according to its requirements.
The former CDS said that if the government wants a larger number of military options, adequate resources must be invested during peacetime to develop defence capabilities.
Military leadership must prepare options that can be employed to achieve specific strategic objectives.
Training and Military Exercises Expand the Available Options
General Chauhan said that the number and quality of military options cannot be developed overnight. They require continuous preparation during peacetime, including intensive training, military exercises and planning for different possible scenarios.
He said the available options depend on the kind of training provided by military leadership, the exercises conducted and the potential scenarios that have been studied and prepared for.
This preparation helps increase the number of options available to decision-makers.
He also pointed out that every military option carries some degree of risk. Commanders and political leaders have to strike a balance between that risk and the political objective they seek to achieve.
Strategic Impact of Operation Sindoor Remains a Subject of Discussion
Around 15 months have passed since the major active operations of Operation Sindoor concluded. However, General Chauhan said its strategic impact continues to be discussed.
He said the operation remains a subject of interest not only in India but also among strategic communities abroad.
According to him, although the major phase of active operations has ended, the broader strategic implications of Operation Sindoor continue to attract attention.
Operation Should Be Assessed Beyond Military Action
General Chauhan said an operation of this nature should not be evaluated solely on the basis of military action.
The assessment should also consider:
- Lessons learned from the operation
- Steps taken to address shortcomings
- Changes in the nature of modern warfare
- Emerging geopolitical uncertainties
- The broader strategic environment
Shortcomings and Changing Nature of Warfare Pose New Challenges
The former CDS said that the measures taken to address shortcomings identified during the operation must also be examined.
At the same time, changes in the nature of warfare and the wider geopolitical environment need to be taken into account.
He said that the shortcomings identified during the operation, corrective measures, evolving methods of warfare and global uncertainties together create a new set of challenges for the country.
Overall, General Chauhan’s remarks highlighted the close relationship between political objectives, military preparedness and strategic decision-making, while stressing the importance of maintaining a wide range of credible military options during peacetime.
