New Delhi : Pakistan’s recent constitutional amendments reflect the failures it faced during Operation Sindoor, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said on Friday. Addressing the Pune Public Policy Festival, General Chauhan said, “The changes which have been brought about in Pakistan, including the constitutional amendment done hurriedly, are actually an acknowledgement of the fact that everything didn’t go well for them in this operation.
The amendment to Article 243 of Pakistan’s Constitution has brought significant alterations to the country’s higher defence organisation. General Chauhan explained that the post of Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, intended to promote jointness among the three services, has been abolished. In its place, Pakistan has created the post of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
He noted a critical limitation, “This post can be created only by the Chief of Army Staff, which goes against the basic principle of jointness.”
Pakistan has also created a National Strategy Command and an Army Rocket Forces Command. “From both conventional and strategic standpoints, this may strengthen their capabilities. What they have essentially done is concentrate power by creating these new structures,” the CDS said.
General Chauhan added, “Today, the Army Chief will be responsible for land operations, joint operations with the Navy and Air Force through the CDF, as well as strategic and nuclear matters.
Chauhan linked these developments to operational lessons learned during Operation Sindoor and previous engagements, including the Uri surgical strikes, the Doklam and Galwan standoffs, and the Balakot air strike. He added that India is working to standardise command structures across all contingencies. Regarding the proposed joint theatre commands, he said, The Union government has granted an extension for completing the exercise till May 30, 2026.
