The third edition of the Dweep Diksha Dialogue, held on September 19-20, spotlighted the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) as a crucial maritime strategic hub for India, officials said. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan highlighted ANC’s pivotal role in safeguarding India’s interests in the Indo-Pacific region during the two-day forum.
The dialogue, themed “Evolution of ANC as a Strategic Hub and Beyond”, brought together serving officers, veterans, strategists, diplomats, academics, and media representatives to deliberate on emerging security challenges, future-ready operational concepts, cyber and cognitive warfare, and the strategic signalling necessary to position India as a preferred security partner in the region.
Lieutenant General Dinesh Singh Rana, Commander-in-Chief ANC (CINCAN), and Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Admiral D.K. Joshi, led key discussions, emphasizing ANC’s growing importance in multi-domain warfare, grey-zone strategies, and maritime security. Former Chiefs of Naval Staff and ex-commanders, including Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd), Lieutenant General Ajai Singh (Retd), Rear Admiral Monty Khanna (Retd), Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, and Vice Admiral Anil Chawla (Retd), also contributed insights on operational planning and regional stability.
The dialogue served as a platform not only to examine India’s current security posture in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) but also to envision the long-term trajectory of the country’s defence and security capabilities. Participants explored strategies to strengthen joint-service cooperation, enhance professional military education, and conduct operational experimentation to meet evolving regional challenges.
Instituted in 2023, the Dweep Diksha Dialogue reflects ANC’s transformation from a geographically remote outpost into a dynamic intellectual and operational hub capable of influencing policy, operational planning, and regional maritime stability. The event reinforced ANC’s role as a decisive anchor for India’s national interests in the IOR, guiding the country’s maritime strategy for years to come.
Officials highlighted that such dialogues facilitate the exchange of strategic thinking, foster innovation in military operations, and create synergies between the Armed Forces, policymakers, and security analysts. By integrating discussions on cognitive and cyber warfare with traditional maritime strategy, ANC is positioning itself as a forward-looking command that can respond effectively to emerging threats and opportunities in the Indo-Pacific.
Through the Dweep Diksha Dialogue, ANC continues to cement its status as India’s only operational joint-services command with both strategic and intellectual influence, strengthening India’s capacity to safeguard its maritime interests while enhancing regional peace and stability.
