TOI+ Webinar: Is India at war now? Get all your answers from the experts

medium nocaption121032772Tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Pakistan in response to the cowardly Pahalgam attack.Pakistan retaliated with drone and missile strikes that targeted multiple Indian cities – including Jammu, Amritsar, Bhatinda, and Bikaner – prompting India to launch an expansive counterattack, hitting military bases and security installation as far as Lahore and Karachi.As the conflict expands, there are questions that we all need answers to. Can this turn into full-fledged war? If it does, who is better placed to win it? Can China step in at any point to help its all-weather friend and open a second front against India? Can Bangladesh, given its growing proximity to Islamabad, create trouble for India?The fog of war can be daunting.TOI Plus LIVE has put a panel of three of India’s leading defence and strategic affairs experts to decode the operation, examine regional dynamics, and predict, as far as possible, where this conflict is headed. Tune in to ask your questions live.Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025Time: 3 pmWhat the panel will exploreThe ground reality: What has really unfolded under Operation Sindoor? Is the situation stabilising or deteriorating?It’s early days, but who has the upper hand at this point – India or Pakistan?How true are Pakistan’s claims of shooting down Indian fighter jets? And has India too taken down some of Pakistan’s jets?China’s role: Silent observer, or strategic manipulator? Where does Beijing stand and why is it staying quiet?De-escalation possibilities: Are there any diplomatic exits left? What role can global powers play?Pakistan’s fragile economy: With IMF strings tightening and inflation soaring, how sustainable is Islamabad’s brinkmanship?India’s international positioning: Is the world standing with us, and how far are they willing to go?What’s next: Are we looking at a limited conflict, or is the risk of all-out war real?The panel:Air Vice Marshal Suryakant Chafekar (Retd), AVSM, Shaurya Chakra medium nocaption121036865AVM (Retd) Suryakant Chafekar, served as Senior Air and Administration Staff Officer of Maintenance Command in the Indian Air Force. Commissioned in the Transport stream, he logged over 7,000 flying hours, including 3,500 instructional hours. A Defence Services Staff College alumnus and qualified Flying Instructor, he was instrumental in high-altitude air operations, including pioneering trial landings at Daulat Beg Oldie (world's highest airstrip), Nyoma, and Fukche. Known for his leadership in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief missions, he led rescue operations during the Uttarakhand floods and the Yemen evacuation. He played a key role in inducting C-17 and C-130 aircraft into the IAF and commanded premier bases, including Air Force Station Chandigarh. Honoured with the Shaurya Chakra for gallantry and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service, he is now a defence analyst, youth mentor, and author of two memoirs, Shades of Blue (2021) and Nilayeechya Chata (2021), the latter awarded by Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad, Pune.Commodore Srikant B Kesnur (Retd) medium nocaption121036856Cmde (Retd) Srikant Kesnur, an alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy, was commissioned in the Indian Navy in July 1986. In his 36 year career, he has had extensive experience in maritime operations, training, Professional Military Education (PME), leadership, diplomacy and communication. He has been the Captain of two frontline ships – an anti-submarine frigate INS Vindhyagiri and India’s biggest amphibious ship INS Jalashwa.His other key appointments include being the Defence Adviser at the High Commission of India, based in Nairobi (Kenya), from Oct 2008 to Mar 2012, with Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, Eritrea and Somalia as his area of responsibility as well as being a faculty member at the National Defence Academy (Pune), Defence Services Staff College (Wellington) and the Naval War College (Goa). An author and editor of several books on the Navy, he currently teaches about defence and maritime issues at various institutions.Brigadier Rajiv Williams (Retd) medium nocaption121036845Brigadier (Retd) Rajiv Williams’ military career spanned 34 years, marked by exceptional service and bravery. Serving in various war and peace-time locations, he spent nearly two decades in the challenging terrains of Jammu and Kashmir, including high-conflict zones like Drass, Kargil, and the Siachen Glacier. These experiences honed his leadership skills and resilience, shaping his future endeavors. medium nocaption121032753In a rare format, subscribers will be able to send in live questions and comments, making this panel as interactive as it is insightful. The experts will respond to select questions in real time.Come back to this space for the exclusive link to the panel, which will be updated at 2.45 pm on Saturday, May 10, 2025.