The Prime Minister cautioned that terrorist groups have become highly networked, more lethal and said, there is need for appropriate and integrated responses. Expressing anxiety, Dr. Manmohan Singh said that Nuclear proliferation and nuclear security remain a serious threat in the neighbourhood. He was addressing the combined Commanders conference of the Armed Forces in New Delhi today. He asserted that given the volatile situation in the neighbourhood and the region, there is an urgent need to focus more on maritime security, securing country's coastline and its exclusive economic zone, security of island territories and keeping the sea lanes of communication open. Describing cyber threats as an emerging major source of worry, Dr. Singh pointed out that cyber and information warfare could qualitatively change the concept of a battlefield. The Prime Minister asserted that in this age of rapid information flows and explosion of technologies, one of the most important security imperatives is the ability to respond to these challenges quickly and in an integrated fashion.

Highlighting multiple challenges faced by the country, the Prime Minister said, the task of coordinated response to global problems has become more difficult as major powers are pre-occupied and India must strengthen its capabilities. Dr. Manmohan Singh assured that the modernisation of the armed forces will not be limited only to acquisition of foreign equipments of technologies but to progressively reduce dependence on external sources.