The Indian Army Delivered Victory—Why Did We Let the Story Betray Them?

This isn't hyperbole. This is the new reality of modern warfare—where perception can shape policy, headlines can distort victories, and careless media handling can undermine years of national strategic effort.

- DR NISHAKANT OJHA

While India's armed forces continue to achieve historic operational success with discipline and determination, we are allowing fragile media optics to undo their hard-earned gains.

Let us be absolutely clear: India just handed Pakistan a narrative win. Not because of any failure on the battlefield, not because of a diplomatic misstep, and certainly not because of any error on the part of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) or the armed forces.

The error was political, procedural, and institutional. And those who greenlit the flawed media engagement must be held accountable—without delay.

The Indian Army accomplished its objective with professionalism and courage, yet a fleeting moment of misinformation threatened to undo their sacrifice. In today's age, wars aren't just fought with bullets—they're fought with narratives.

The Chief of Defence Staff represents strategic continuity and national defense leadership. Undermining our armed forces through distorted storytelling weakens India's position from within. We must defend our soldiers not just on the battlefield, but in the arena of public perception.

When the CDS speaks or acts, it reflects the will to protect India's integrity. Let's not allow 90 seconds to erase 90 hours of valor.

The Indian Armed Forces: A Fortress of Discipline and Excellence—The Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force have, time and again, proven their unmatched capability to protect our borders and secure our interests.

Our military has fought on the highest altitudes, neutralized cross-border threats, and carried out precise, measured retaliation without seeking global applause or falling into the trap of politicization.

The creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) role was a transformational step in this direction—meant to integrate the three services, streamline procurement, and strengthen India's defence doctrine.