Hyderabad: War Veterans said Wednesday that from waiting for the latest news on the radio to receiving instant alerts on WhatsApp and Twitter, the conflict experience in India has changed dramatically, and communication has become the decisive factor in defense preparation, War Veterans said Wednesday. When the simulation exercise was held at four major locations in Hyderabad, veterans stressed that the country was entering a new stage of preparation and that civilians must take it seriously.
From 1988 to 1995, Shiva Kiran (Retd) recalled service during the peak of the Kashmir rebellion, describing the transformation of preparation as revolutionary. “We rely on physical maps, with few moving convoys and communications without satellite tracking. Today, we witnessed a technology-led response involving seamless cooperation between civil defense, police, fire departments and armed forces,” he explained.
He added: “These drills are not just theaters. It's a wake-up call. It's a day of alienation and radio silence. Today, information and coordination are about to be immediately.”
Colonel Merugu Solomon Saneev, who was serving in Punjab, Jamu and Kashmir and Rajasthan, said: “My experience has taught me the value of training and preparation. Related to the actions, the government trained its own actions and allowed them to train them. Panic.”
He cautioned against spreading misinformation on social media. “It's a time when the public is alert and not afraid. Avoid falling into fake news or videos. Trust-verified news sources (such as newspapers and TV). Don't share half-breed information about the armed forces. Every initiative may not bring back a lost life, but it sends a strong message to identify future terrorist acts,” he said.
Colonel V. Mahadevan (Retd), who served in the 1970s, emphasized the importance of communication. “At that time, we depended on newspapers and radios. No cell phones, no digital alerts – we hardly talked to neighbors, except shouting at the wall. Today, news spreads in seconds through Whatsapp and Instagram. It's not scary, it's awesome, it's amazing. Instant communication can save lives.”
Jamu and Kashmir and Assam veteran Colonel Manoj Pathak said: “I was not deploying directly in Kargir in Kargir, but during the mobilization of the Northeast forces, a ceasefire was announced and we returned. Today's simulation exercise is essential. There are many important installations in Hydering, i.e. in Hydering, what is important in the distance. High level.”
