After Supplying Pinaka Rockets, CDS Anil Chauhan Arrives in Armenia, Delivering a Double Blow to Pakistan

New Delhi: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Anil Chauhan arrived in Armenia on Sunday, leading a high-level delegation for a four-day visit aimed at strengthening defence and security cooperation between India and Armenia. The visit comes immediately after India dispatched the first batch of indigenously developed guided Pinaka rockets to the country, marking a significant milestone in bilateral military ties.

Strategic Importance of the Visit
India and Armenia have historically maintained strong strategic relations. Recently, Pakistan has attempted to establish diplomatic ties with Armenia, making CDS Chauhan’s visit particularly significant. The timing of the visit, immediately following the Pinaka rocket supply, sends a clear message of India’s deepening defence partnership with Armenia, delivering a “double blow” to Pakistan and its allied nations.

Pinaka Rockets Strengthen Bilateral Defence Ties
Two weeks ago, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the first shipment of India-made guided Pinaka rockets for Armenia. The rockets were manufactured by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, Pune. In 2022, Armenia had signed a deal worth nearly ₹2,000 crore to procure four Pinaka rocket systems from India. Armenia is also the first international buyer of the DRDO-developed Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, highlighting India’s growing stature in global defence exports.

CDS Visit Signals Strategic Partnership
During his visit to Yerevan, CDS Chauhan was welcomed by Indian Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha and Armenian Armed Forces Deputy Chief, Major General Taimur Shahnazaryan. The visit is being viewed as a critical step toward advancing shared strategic interests and long-term defence and security collaboration between the two countries.

A Geopolitical Message to Pakistan
Armenia shares borders with Russia, Turkey, and Iran, and its strategic partnership with India is significant in the regional context. Until recently, Armenia and Pakistan had no formal diplomatic relations. Last September, the two countries initiated steps to restore ties. During Operation Sindur, Azerbaijan, closely allied with Turkey, revealed its stance against India. In this scenario, India’s growing strategic presence in Armenia—through both the supply of advanced Pinaka rockets and the CDS visit—delivers a clear message to Pakistan: India is strengthening bonds with Armenia, its neighbour and regional partner, countering Pakistan’s outreach.

Conclusion
India’s defence exports and strategic engagement in Armenia underline its ambition to become self-reliant in defence production while emerging as a global leader. CDS Anil Chauhan’s high-profile visit, combined with the supply of guided Pinaka rockets, marks a significant step in India-Armenia defence cooperation and a strong signal in the region’s evolving geopolitical landscape.