Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses for a photo with Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Navy Chief Admiral RK Dhowan and Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag during the Annual Combined Commanders Conference of the Armed Forces in New Delhi on Friday. (Source: PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses for a photo with Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Navy Chief Admiral RK Dhowan and Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag during the Annual Combined Commanders Conference of the Armed Forces in New Delhi on Friday. (Source: PTI)

Asking the armed forces to be prepared for a “future where security challenges will be less predictable… threats may be known, but the enemy may be invisible”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said “full-scale wars may become rare, but force will remain an instrument of deterrence and influencing behavior, and the duration of conflicts will be shorter”.

Addressing the annual combined commanders conference, days after cross-border violations by Pakistan and Chinese incursions in Ladakh, Modi said an atmosphere of peace and security was essential to enable India achieve its goals of economic development. For this purpose, he said, his government was focused on creating a favourable external environment and strengthening India’s security.

Outlining strategic and security challenges and priorities, he said India had to be prepared for a changing world which demanded new thinking on economic, diplomatic and security policies.

The world, he said, was looking at India with “renewed interest, confidence and excitement” and there was a “universal current of expectation” from India to emerge not only as one of the poles of the global economy, but also as one of the anchors of regional and global security.

“Beyond the immediate, we are facing a future where security challenges will be less predictable, situations will evolve and change swiftly, and technological changes will make responses more difficult to keep pace with. The threats may be known, but the enemy may be invisible.”

“Domination of cyber space will become increasingly important. Control of space may become as critical as that of land, air and sea. Full-scale wars may become rare, but force will remain an instrument of deterrence and influencing behavior, and duration of conflicts will be shorter,” he said.

Promising to continue the practice of meeting the three service chiefs at least once a month, he suggested the commanders conference be organised alternately on sea, in forward army camps and at air bases, and not just in Delhi.

The Prime Minister assured the armed forces of providing adequate resources to ensure full defence preparedness, overcome shortages and meet modernisation needs. He also asked the defence establishment, including the armed forces, to reform procurement processes and suggest corrective measures to avoid delays in domestic development and production of defence equipment.

He urged the armed forces to focus on efficiency and economy in use of resources and military assets via greater integration and sharing of resources among the services. He asked them to draw up long-term acquisition plans. “We should remember that what matters is capability of the force.”

“When we speak of Digital India, we would also like to see a Digital Armed Force,” he added.

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