India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, recently issued a directive to Indian Army commanders in response to the October 7th incident involving Hamas in Israel. He urged them to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances. The Indian Army has been analyzing the terror strike and the Israeli Defense Forces’ ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, as reported by Hindustan Times.

In response to potential asymmetric threats, the Indian Army has made substantial emergency purchases in two phases. These purchases include a variety of defense systems such as anti-drone technology, logistics Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), loiter ammunition, and ground sensors. These acquisitions align with the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliant India) initiative, which aims to protect Indian borders and counter potential asymmetric strikes.

The recent Hamas terror strike in Gaza and rocket attacks on Israeli cities have been a critical topic of discussion during the Army Commanders’ Conference. Key stakeholders, including the armed forces, intelligence agencies, and the Ministry of External Affairs, are closely studying the implications of this conflict and its potential impact on the Middle East region.