ITANAGAR, Mar 24: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen (Retd) KT Parnaik has emphasized the urgent need for India to strengthen its capabilities in cyber defence, satellite surveillance, electronic warfare, and AI-enabled intelligence systems to effectively address emerging security challenges.
The Governor was speaking at a two-day ‘China Seminar’ held at Likabali Military Station on Monday and Tuesday.
Drawing from his extensive experience along the northern borders—from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, including tenures in Bhutan, Parnaik highlighted that China has developed a robust, integrated command structure. Referring to the People's Liberation Army, he noted its focus on centralized command and control, seamless coordination among services, and the capability to launch multi-domain operations through joint theatre commands.
He pointed out that China invests heavily in cyber capabilities, treating cyberspace as a critical domain for both defensive and offensive operations. It also prioritizes electronic warfare and spectrum dominance through advanced surveillance, jamming, and countermeasure systems to disrupt adversaries while safeguarding its own communication networks.
The Governor further observed that Chinese armed forces are rapidly advancing autonomous and intelligent systems, including unmanned platforms and AI-enabled decision-support mechanisms, which significantly enhance operational speed, situational awareness, and battlefield effectiveness.
Underscoring India’s preparedness, Lt Gen Parnaik said that strengthening unified command under the Chief of Defence Staff through fully integrated theatre commands is essential to effectively counter potential aggression from the PLA. He stressed that faster decision-making, unified command structures, and improved logistics along the Himalayan border would ensure rapid mobilization and coordinated responses in any contingency.
Highlighting the evolving nature of modern warfare, he said conflicts now extend beyond conventional battlefields. Strengthening institutions such as the Defence Cyber Agency and the Defence Space Agency will be crucial to securing communications, disrupting adversary networks, and maintaining information dominance.
The Governor also underscored the importance of strategic partnerships, noting that cooperation through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue enhances deterrence and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. He added that joint exercises, intelligence sharing, and coordinated maritime presence send a strong message against unilateral aggression.
He concluded by stating that a combination of joint military readiness, technological superiority, and strong alliances will be key to building a robust deterrence framework capable of safeguarding national interests and maintaining regional stability.