'Domination of Cyberspace Increasingly Important,' PM Modi Tells Military Commanders

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged the armed forces to incorporate "new thinking" and keep pace with a changing world where domination of cyberspace will become important and full scale wars may become rare.

In his first meeting with top commanders, he said, "The threats may be known, but the enemy may be invisible. Domination of cyber space will become increasingly important."

He said control of space may become as critical as that of land, air and sea. "Full scale wars may become rare, but force will remain an instrument of deterrence and influencing behavior, and the duration of conflicts will be shorter," he said.

Some 100 officers from all three forces attended the conference against the backdrop of concerns over ceasefire violations by Pakistan at the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Prime Minister said an atmosphere of peace and security is essential for India to achieve economic development.  He shared that he would continue the practice he had started of meeting the three Chiefs at least once a month.

Eight civilians were killed and several injured in firing and heavy shelling from Pakistan in the past few weeks along the International Border and the Line of Control. India warned of an "unaffordable cost" to Pakistan if it continued to violate the 2003 ceasefire between the two countries.

Interacting with the officers, PM Modi mentioned the delay in modernizing defence equipment and upgrading of arsenal. He urged the forces to reform procurement processes and suggest measures to "avoid delays in domestic development and production of defence equipment."

The Prime Minister, one of the most tech and social media savvy politicians in India, asked the military to give serious thought to upgrading technological skills for "effective projection of power" by their men.

"When we speak of Digital India, we would also like to see a Digital Armed Force," he commented.