Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday urged the armed forces to ‘deliberate’ and ‘re-orient’ role of defence attaches (DAs) posted in foreign missions for increasing the outreach of military diplomacy to nations and continents crucial to India’s geo-political interests.
The Defence Minister’s pitch during the third day of Army Commanders’ Conference, which began on April 1 and would end on April 4, is also in line with India exhorting defence attaches to push indigenous military products’ exports.
Last year, India decided for the first to send DAs to a number of its embassies and consulates in Africa to deal with situations Indo-Pacific, India Ocean Region and Eurasia.
Compliments contributions of Army
Singh complimented the significant contributions made by the Army in military diplomacy to further national security interests by creating sustainable cooperative relationships with foreign Armies.
He said DAs can play important role in realising Indian Army’s objective of having better relations with other Armies.
“We must deliberate on the re-orientation of role of the DAs in line with the organisational aim,” he told commanders.
He also said that trade and finance along with cyber, information and communication have become “inseparable part of future conflicts” and that the armed forces should be ready to tackle such unconventional and asymmetric warfare.
The Minister said the world is no longer isolated to events that are happening at a distance while drawing attention towards the present geo strategic uncertainties. Incidents whether happening in our neighbourhood or far off countries will effect everyone, he told the Army commanders.
“Unconventional and asymmetric warfare, including hybrid war will be part of the future conventional wars. Cyber, information, communication, trade and finance have all become an inseparable part of future conflicts. This necessitates that Armed Forces will have to keep all these facets in consideration while planning and formulating strategies,” the Minister stated.
Keeping in mind the present dynamic geo-strategic changes and the ongoing global security scenarios with the uncertainties, the armed forces should prepare a dynamic perspective planning addressing both the long term and short term challenges.
In the present global context the importance of Military Intelligence incorporating the modern technology cannot be stressed upon more, he emphasised.
Published on April 3, 2025