2.5 Front War

The "2.5 front war" concept was articulated by General Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

What is "2.5 Front War"?

In his strategic assessment, General Rawat described India as facing:

• Two full fronts:
  1. China
  2. Pakistan
• One internal half front:
  • Internal security challenges such as insurgency, extremism, radicalism, and ideological subversion — especially those emerging from within the country and undermining national unity.

This concept emphasized that India's defense challenges are not just about external threats, but also internal ones — which are often harder to detect and counter because they come wrapped in democratic rights or social causes.

The term became widely discussed in Indian strategic and defense circles as it highlighted the need for a holistic approach to national security, beyond conventional warfare.