MUMBAI, November 27, 2025 : Vice Admiral K. Swaminathan, Commander-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, has raised serious concerns over Pakistan’s aggressive global arms shopping spree following Operation Sindoor, calling it a destabilising development for the region. Speaking at a security conference hosted by the Bramha Research Foundation, he also underlined that China’s expanding naval footprint continues to pose a persistent strategic challenge for India.
The Vice Admiral noted that after Operation Sindoor—which saw India conduct coordinated military strikes on terror hubs across Pakistan and PoK in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists—Pakistan has accelerated weapons procurement at an unprecedented pace.
He pointed out that this heavy militarisation is taking place despite Pakistan’s severe economic crisis, adding, “The Pakistani Army is shopping all around the world with scant regard for its own people’s hardships.”
🇨🇳 China: The Long-Term Strategic Challenge
Vice Admiral Swaminathan emphasised that the Chinese Navy is now the world’s largest, having added the equivalent of an entire Indian Navy fleet in just a decade.
He highlighted:
-
Commissioning of China’s third aircraft carrier, Fujian
-
Development of 5th & 6th generation fighter jets
-
Persistent deployment of 5–8 Chinese vessels in the Indian Ocean Region, including warships, research and tracking ships
“China’s assertiveness is no longer limited to the South China Sea—its presence in the Indian Ocean is now an enduring challenge,” he warned.
🇵🇰–🇨🇳 Overt Collusion Exposed During Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor revealed open coordination between China and Pakistan, he said, noting that what was previously assumed to be covert was now visible “in broad daylight.”
The Vice Admiral also flagged Turkey’s emergence as a key supplier and supporter of Pakistan, calling it a new and worrisome trend.
⚔️ Operation Sindoor Changed the Strategic Mindset
Both Swaminathan and Air Marshal Rakesh Sinha of the Integrated Defence Staff highlighted that the operation showcased:
-
Exceptional tri-service synergy
-
Precision, well-coordinated strikes
-
India’s ability to conduct multi-domain operations
-
Collapse of Pakistan’s nuclear deterrence assumptions
Air Marshal Sinha stressed that India has now set a “new normal”—firmly rejecting nuclear blackmail and retaining the right to respond decisively at a time and place of its choosing.
He also noted the highly effective use of Indian drones and AWACS integration, which gave India a decisive edge.
