Pune, Feb. 13 -- Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan said that assumptions about permanent friends or adversaries are increasingly unreliable in today's evolving global order, asserting that India must be prepared to act independently when required.

Addressing the opening session of the JAI Se Vijay seminar in Pune, the Chief of Defence Staff said, "Assumptions about permanent friends or adversaries are increasingly becoming unreliable. In today's world, it is difficult to define who are your friends, who are your allies, who are your enemies and who are your adversaries. India must therefore be prepared mentally, structurally and materially to act independently when required."

The CDS underlined that partnerships remain valuable bu...