India's Operation Sindoor delivered a seismic shock to Pakistan, prompting sweeping constitutional and military reforms that expose glaring weaknesses in its defense structure, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan stated today. Addressing the Pune Public Policy Festival 2026, Gen Chauhan described the changes as a direct "fallout" from the May 2025 strikes, forcing Islamabad into a hurried reset of its power hierarchy.

Pakistan has scrapped its Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee position, introducing a powerful Chief of Defence Forces role alongside new entities like the National Strategy Command and Army Rocket Forces Command. This centralizes control over land forces, joint operations, and even nuclear assets under one leader—a stark contrast to worldwide moves toward collaborative command systems. Gen Chauhan warned that such a "land-centric" approach could breed internal rivalries, echoing pitfalls seen in other over-centralized militaries.

The operation saw India unleash precision missile and air strikes on terror camps run by Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Punjab. Relying on indigenous weapons like BrahMos missiles and loitering munitions, the strikes avoided military targets and civilian areas, showcasing a new era of technology-led warfare over traditional geographic constraints. Though paused, Gen Chauhan emphasized its ongoing lessons, building on precedents like Balakot and Galwan.

While Pakistan reacts in haste, India advances methodically with integrated theatre commands nearly complete ahead of timeline. The CDS framework prioritizes cyber, space, and AI domains, fostering joint service decisions for agile responses to hybrid threats. This setup bolsters border readiness, blending cutting-edge tech with ground forces for sustained deterrence.

Operation Sindoor signals a paradigm shift where precision tech redefines deterrence in South Asia, yet land battles remain fierce in hotspots. India's measured strikes highlight resolve without escalation, potentially curbing terror proxies and spurring rivals to adapt. As experts dissect these moves, the subcontinent braces for evolving power balances.