Reflections from India: Strategy, Resolve, and the Shape of Modern War
John Spencer
I’ve just returned from an extremely informative trip to India, where I had the privilege of meeting with senior military leaders, both active and retired, along with political officials, strategic thinkers, defense innovators, and some of the country’s most seasoned national security journalists. What I saw and heard underscored not just how far India has come, but how deliberately it is shaping its future.
From the Indian Army’s Director General of Military Operations to veteran generals, from the Ministry of External Affairs team to top diplomats and defense tech entrepreneurs, the message was consistent: the old assumptions about India’s strategic posture no longer apply. The country is transforming in doctrine, technology, and geopolitical outlook.
At the center of many conversations was Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre. Leaders described it not just as a counterterror operation, but as a strategic turning point. I spoke at length with the officers who planned and executed the operation. They emphasized the extent of India’s preparation, including months of wargaming, real-time intelligence fusion, and pre-positioned air defense and artillery assets.
The operation demonstrated India's shift from a reactive posture to a proactive, precision-oriented doctrine. Seven of the nine terrorist targets were struck using long-range fires from the Army rather than airstrikes, including loitering munitions and rocket artillery. Counter-drone technology played a key role, with integrated use of radar, jammers, and both kinetic and soft-kill systems to neutralize incoming threats. Real-time battle damage assessments were enabled by persistent ISR from satellites and human intelligence. I was briefed on how even legacy systems, like L-70 guns, were effectively combined with modern platforms to create layered defenses. The integration of kinetic force with narrative control was deliberate. What stood out was the clarity and firmness of India’s red lines. Every terrorist attack will receive a military response. There will be no distinction between the attacker and those who support or harbor them.
Beyond the battlefield, India is reshaping its national security ecosystem. Defense innovation is no longer confined to government labs. Private companies, including many driven by young engineers and entrepreneurs, are building and fielding autonomous systems across air, land, and sea. The defense-industrial push under Make in India is producing results. From loitering munitions to GPS-independent drones to integrated air defense, India is demonstrating increasing self-reliance in key capabilities.
Regarding Kashmir, I heard how a region once synonymous with conflict is now seeing investment, tourism, and record infrastructure development. Officials acknowledged the persistent challenges, including infiltration attempts, disinformation campaigns, and international narratives that often downplay the role of cross-border terrorism. But they also highlighted growing democratic participation, religious pluralism, and a rejection of extremist violence by local communities.
The conversations I had covered a wide range of subjects: airpower, deterrence, counterterrorism, information warfare, supply chain security, semiconductors, and the future of space and cyber operations. But across all of them was a consistent theme. India is preparing for the next war while working to protect the peace it is building at home.
I’ll be writing more in the weeks ahead. There is much to unpack. But one thing is clear. The India I saw is not waiting for recognition. It is asserting itself. It is planning, modernizing, and executing with focus. For anyone interested in the future of conflict, deterrence, and democratic resilience, this is a country to watch.
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