Armed forces should build capabilities to effectively fight future wars: Ex army chief Gen Pande

NEW DELHI: (Mar 15) Indian armed forces should be able to deal with the current security threat and anticipate challenges ahead, and build capabilities which will enable them to "effectively fight future wars," former Army chief Gen Manoj Pande (retd) said on Saturday.

In his address at an event here, he also said that where national interests are involved, "we see the primacy of military force or military power", and cited examples of the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war and the West Asia conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.

Gen Pande served as the 29th chief of the Army staff from April 2022 to June 2024. His tenure saw the Army's focus on a high state of combat readiness, impetus towards its transformation and a strong push towards initiatives to achieve self-reliance.