POST SUCCESSFUL OP SINDOOR NATION BOWS TO VALOUR OF ARMED FORCES

The whole nation bows to valour of armed forces who by their professional excellence and precise execution of Operation Sindoor commencing on night 7/8 May 2025 has brought terror propagator Pakistan to knees in less than 72 hours through a series of missile and air strikes initially on terror camps and subsequently using an array of weapon systems and missiles on key installations ranging from air defence systems to radar sites and command centres of the Pakistani military targets as a retaliatory strike in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir delivering Justice to perpetrators of Pahalgam terrorist attack on innocent civilians. This firm and measured retaliation reflects India’s growing defence sovereignty - a vision championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These strikes proved very disastrous and humiliating for Pakistan and they were left with no answers to Indian attacks. Pakistan Director General of Military Operations called up Indian counterpart on hotline at 1535 hours on 10 May, 2025 and finalised understanding on cessation of hostilities.

The Modi government’s military modernization efforts have had a positive and long lasting impact on enhancing the effectiveness of the Indian armed forces. Modi’s emphasis on developing India’s military-industrial complex stems largely from his broader vision of India as not merely a regional power, but an emerging global one. Today, India’s armed forces are stronger, smarter, and more self-reliant than ever before. With indigenous defence capabilities rising and strategic partnerships deepening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has truly redefined India’s strategic autonomy and military strength for the 21st century.

Post Op Sindoor India must maintain a formidable military with state-ofthe-art assets and a robust defence industrial base to protect national interests at all times, India must Evolve a National Security Doctrine and Synergy and jointness among civilian leadership, the military, Intelligence agencies, police and paramilitary organisations in planning and conducting warfare must continue. At the same time nation has to reciprocate by honoring the soldier, guarding his dignity in public life, and looking after welfare of soldier and families. The governments have spent money, energy and time in enabling Indian armed forces to remain prepared to meet any eventuality. One of the biggest factors that keep the morale of forces high is the faith they have in any government to take care of their interests and welfare. When a soldier speaks, a nation must at least hear him out and there is still a lot left to do regarding their grievances and its direct impact on the morale of armed forces and soldiers. Some important issues that warrants national and government attention post Op Sindoor are – Need to Define a National Security Doctrine and Evolve a National Security Strategy In view of the two hostile nuclear neighbours, Constant cross border terrorism threats, Internal security issues related to Naxalism or Insurgency and other internal disturbances we need to define a National Security Doctrine (NSD) and evolve a National Security Strategy (NSS) to effectively counter these threats in most effective manner. India’s national security doctrine is an evolving framework aimed at addressing traditional and non-traditional security challenges, emphasizing a proactive and assertive approach to safeguarding national interests. We currently lack a formal, codified NSD, which has led to fragmented responses to security threats. However, recent developments indicate a shift towards establishing a comprehensive framework that outlines core principles, threat perceptions, and response mechanisms for national security and must be done as a top priority task.

Set -Up National Commission for Soldiers and Ex Servicemen Welfare and Grievance Redressal Fifteen years back in one of the judgments Hon. Supreme Court had directed the Centre to constitute the Armed Forces Grievances Redressal Commission to look into the grievances of serving or former members of the armed forces or family members for pension or other issues and make suitable recommendations expeditiously to Central government in this regard. However, nothing really moved on ground and existing mechanism of grievance resolution and welfare of soldiers and ex servicemen through Department of Ex - Servicemen Welfare and Armed Forces Tribunal has not proved to be effective. The system of Grievance Redressal that was prevalent with District level officials holding monthly meetings under District Collectors and Sainik Kalyan Adhikaris has also ceased leaving the soldiers and ex servicemen to themselves.

Resettlement of Veterans About 60,000 soldiers retire every year from the Indian Armed Forces and these ESM or Veterans are in the age bracket of 35 to 45 years. They constitute a well-trained, self-motivated and a highly disciplined work force and government has to do a lot more in this field as the agencies involved in their resettlement have not been able to meet their aspirations and most veterans still land up in security services or remain unemployed. Grant One Rank One Pension and NFU Grant OROP as envisaged by Koshyari committee, i.e. uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces Personnel retiring in same rank with same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in rates of pension to be automatically passed on to past pensioners on annual basis and NFU to Armed Forces Officers as granted to all civil services must be accorded.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Col Rajesh Bhukar, The writer is a Post Graduate in International Studies, Alumni of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Combat, Mhow rbhukar1@gmail.com