Smiles of Top Defence Brass tell a story

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the chiefs of India's armed forces appeared composed and even smiling during a high-level, closed-door meeting in New Delhi. The meeting - attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi - came less than 24 hours after Pakistan launched a wave of drone and missile attacks along India's western border.

Despite a night of unprovoked aggression from Pakistan, the top brass of India's defence establishment looked calm, confident, collected - and even cheerful - sending a clear and deliberate message to the nation: India is secure, its leadership is alert, and there is no cause for alarm.

The image of Rajnath Singh flanked by the service chiefs has become emblematic of India's posture - resolute, in control, and unshaken. In the face of provocation, the country's leadership chose composure over alarm, and strength over noise.

The meeting between the Defence Minister, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the three service chiefs lasted for two hours. During the briefing, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi provided an update on the current situation with Pakistan, while Air Chief Marshal AP Singh detailed the Indian Air Force's response actions.