Warfare Has Evolved, So Must the Commentary: A Practitioner’s Response to M.K. Narayanan
I have gone through the lead article written by Mr. M. K. Narayanan titled “The Reality of the Changing Dimensions of Warfare” published in The Hindu on July 24, 2025. Having also reviewed his other recent public statements and writings, I feel compelled, both as a long serving practitioner in India’s armed security apparatus and as someone deeply involved in India’s contemporary strategic ecosystem to offer a grounded, operational perspective. This isn’t just a rebuttal, it is a call for realism over rhetoric and practice over projection.
Ground realities don’t merely supplement theoretical constructs; they often expose their inadequacies.
Let me begin by acknowledging Mr. Narayanan’s formidable legacy. As a former National Security Adviser (NSA), he has contributed to India’s strategic thought. Yet, at the age of 91, engaging with real time developments, especially in the face of constantly evolving warfare technologies and asymmetric threats can understandably become a challenge. Strategic thinking, particularly in this era of hybrid warfare, demands proximity to ground operations and engagement with emerging technologies, not just reflection on past doctrine.
Mr. Narayanan’s editorial, like many of his recent talks, dwells heavily on traditional security paradigms. This is precisely where his arguments begin to falter. Our national security infrastructure does not, and cannot, function in the public domain. Much of India’s defence planning and execution happens behind closed doors, often at the intersection of classified intelligence, precision operations, and long-term strategic foresight. Judging this machinery through open source metrics is akin to assessing a submarine by the waves on the surface.
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He praises NSA Ajit Doval for being one of the most competent strategic planners of our time, which is a view widely shared across national and international security circles. Yet, paradoxically, he questions the efficacy of our present national security policies under the same leadership. This contradictory stance weakens the strength of his arguments. As any seasoned practitioner will tell you, no defence policy is flawless but India’s present doctrine reflects the evolution from outdated 1960s era militarism to modern deterrence built on layered capabilities and agile response systems.
Strategic commentator continued reference to the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict and the 1965 war with Pakistan as cautionary tales may be academically valid, but tactically obsolete. Warfare has moved from mere troop deployment to domain centric operations. India’s armed forces and paramilitary units have absorbed these transitions well, integrating UAV enabled reconnaissance, electronic warfare modules, and AI powered command systems into their frameworks. These are not theoretical constructs; they are operational realities we engage with daily.
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Operation Sindoor marks a decisive shift in India’s military doctrine, showcasing a practitioner led model of integrated, short-duration warfare. Within a tightly coordinated 30-minute window, India launched multidomain strikes using drone swarms, standoff missiles, and electronic warfare, targeting deep assets in Pakistan, including airbases, radar systems, and command centres. This operation demonstrated India’s ability to synchronise military, cyber, intelligence, and diplomatic efforts, reflecting a mature “whole-of-nation” strategy. With under 50 precision guided weapons, India achieved strategic surprise, compelling Pakistan to request a ceasefire within four days, a testament to the mission’s clarity and non-escalatory in design. Operation Sindoor sets a benchmark for decisive, limited-objective warfare and stands as a case study in modern conflict resolution for security professionals worldwide.
The argument also fails to appreciate, is India’s emerging defence innovation ecosystem. We are not merely consumers of foreign technology anymore. From drone swarms with embedded AI to indigenous sensor arrays and battlefield communication platforms, Indian startups and MSMEs backed by the Ministry of Defence’s iDEX programme and Defence Innovation Hubs are shaping the future of warfare. The public-private interface has never been more vibrant. Many of these young entrepreneurs have no legacy baggage.
And here lies another missed opportunity. Rather than always being the commentator-in-chief, Mr. Narayanan could serve a greater cause by mentoring young defence scholars and technologists. Let their voices emerge. Let their innovations be scrutinized and strengthened. Instead of critiquing with a 20th-century lens, we must equip them to lead 21st-century security narratives.
India in 2025 is not the India of 1990 or even 2010. The country has changed, and so has its security posture. Our approach today is built on a continuum balancing legacy structures with futuristic innovations. Whether it’s the induction of state of the art aircrafts with indigenised avionics or the deployment of network-centric command frameworks, our planning is calibrated, not knee-jerk. And yes, national security strategies cannot be turned around overnight. Strategic patience is a doctrine in itself. Diplomacy, deterrence, and defence planning work in tandem not in isolation.
Commentators like Mr. Narayanan should not fall into the trap of viewing everything through the prism of yesteryears. India’s threats are no longer just from across the border. They are also emerging in the digital, ideological, and economic domains, including invisible threats. Our doctrine has adapted to this, and our institutions are evolving rapidly.
Let’s not dwell in nostalgia or over theorised frameworks. Instead, let’s acknowledge the Indian soldier on the ground, the startup innovator in tier two cities, the cyber analyst at remote locations, and the diplomat negotiating peace. They are all warriors in today’s integrated battlespace.
India needs more mentorship, not cynicism; more vision, not vintage repetition.
Dr. R. K. Arora
Founder Borderman (An Institute for Security Studies)
(With nearly three decades of field experience in high stakes security theatres, ranging from the volatile Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir to the dense insurgency hit zones of Central India and the geopolitically sensitive Northeast, and international peacekeeping under the UN, I bring a practitioner’s lens to the strategic debate.)
Dr. R K Arora
Dr. R.K. Arora, recipient of the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service, is a seasoned professional with over two decades of service in the Border Security Force (BSF), Government of India, where he held key leadership roles in Kashmir, the Indo-Pak border, Naxal-affected regions, and as a UN peacekeeper in Kosovo. With expertise spanning border security, cyber security, counter-narcotics, counter-insurgency, and counter-terrorism, he has combined operational excellence with academic depth, earning a PhD in Border Security and Management and serving as Professor at the Sardar Patel University of Police, Security and Criminal Justice. Currently affiliated with IIT Delhi and serving as Advisor to NCETIS at IIT Bombay, he has been instrumental in fostering defence innovation, mentoring start-ups, and leading initiatives like BHUMI and the Global Centre for Counter-Terrorism. A sought-after speaker at national and international platforms, Dr. Arora continues to champion technology-driven solutions, institution building, and the Make in India vision for national security.
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