China capable of disrupting systems by launching cyber attacks on India: CDS Bipin Rawat 

China has the capability to disrupt systems by launching cyber attacks on India and a mechanism is being readied to combat these, including measures such as help from western nations, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday at an event in Delhi.

Speaking on the current limitations, he said, "We may not be able to fully catch up with China. So we are trying to develop some kind of relationship with western nations and see how better we can get some support from them, during peacetime at least, which will help us to overcome this deficiency."

He pointed out that China has a first-mover advantage as India was slow to start cyber warfare capabilities that have led to the gaps.

"The biggest differential lies in the field of cyber. We know that China is capable of launching cyber attacks on us and it can disrupt a large number of systems," Gen Rawat said.

The CDS was speaking at an event at the Vivekanand International Foundation on shaping the armed forces to meet likely current and future challenges.

There was nearly a 300 per cent spike in cyber attacks last year in comparison to 2019, according to official government data given in Parliament.

"What we are trying to do is create a system which will ensure cyber defence. We have been able to create a cyber agency within the armed forces and each service has also its own cyber agency so that even if we come under a cyber attack, the downtime of the attack doesn't last long," he added.

He said with such a mechanism, it would be possible to overcome the cyber attack and continue through either alternate means or preventive means through firewalls.

Firewalls for cyber attacks

"While we are trying to create firewalls for cyber attacks, they will be able to break through the firewalls and we will have cyber attacks. What we are trying to do is, how long will your systems be down and how will you be able to operate through the phase of cyber attack that we have been put through. That is what we are seriously looking at," CDS Bipin Rawat said.

The CDS said key for combating such attacks is to integrate the resources of the three services. "The Navy is far ahead of the Army and Air Force in the way they have imbibed technology," Gen Rawat said.

On other security challenges, he said India faces "multiple and varied security threats and challenges across the full spectrum of conflict, from proxy wars to hybrid to non-contact, conventional and collusive wars under a nuclear overhang."

"There is an emergent need to develop a vision for the region. However, one must be careful to not bite more than they can chew. The vision for the region or even our global vision must be intrinsically linked to our national interests, which are directly linked to national security," he said.

Elaborating on other critical aspect and security challenges, he spoke about Taliban trying to put pressure on the US and India watching closely.

"There is lot of fighting going on and both sides are losing. Security forces in Afghanistan are trying to combat the Taliban. But Taliban are gaining ground and large swathes are coming under their control. With that, we just heard the US saying they may be there for longer.

"We are watching from close quarters because we have a lot of stakes in Afghanistan. We are watching the situation very carefully. The moves are being made in the right direction... We are keeping our eyes and ears open. We are making sure that we are not out of the bandwagon and that we understand what is happening in that nation." he said.

He added that whatever happens in Afghanistan, India will "make sure that its national interests are not compromised".

"Afghan people as such have lot of respect and regard for Indians and to that extent they too themselves would not want India to be left out. So I think our security interests will get considered."