Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi warns Pakistan of 'befitting reply' if they dare again, says operation Sindoor ongoing
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has issued a stern warning to Pakistan, making it clear that India is no longer defensive, but is prepared to adopt an aggressive stance. He clearly stated that if Pakistan dares to retaliate, it will receive a befitting reply. Referring to Operation Sindoor, the Army Chief said that this operation has proven India's strategic thinking and decisiveness to the world. He stressed that this operation is still ongoing and the army has been given complete freedom of action.
Operation Sindoor broke the enemy's back
General Dwivedi, detailing the retaliatory action taken after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, said that the country had decided to give a strong response, under which 'Operation Sindoor' was carried out. The operation was launched within just 22 minutes on May 7th and lasted for approximately 88 hours until May 10th. In this operation, the army completely destroyed seven out of nine key enemy targets. He took a dig at Pakistan, saying that their nuclear threats have now been dispelled and India is capable of facing any challenge.
Kashmir: Terrorism is over, tourism picks up pace
Expressing satisfaction with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the Army Chief said that the valley is now moving from terrorism to tourism. In 2025, the Army killed 31 terrorists, 65 percent of whom were of Pakistani origin. These included the three perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack, who were killed under Operation Mahadev. He said that the number of local terrorists active in the valley has now fallen to less than 10, and terrorist recruitment has almost ended. A positive impact of this has been the record number of over 400,000 pilgrims participating in the Amarnath Yatra.
Situation stable on China border, Corps Commanders given special powers
Regarding the border dispute with China, General Dwivedi stated that the situation is currently stable and talks are ongoing at the highest level, but constant monitoring of the borders is essential. Meanwhile, given the instability on the Myanmar border, strict security measures have been put in place in Northeast India. The Army Chief provided important information, stating that Corps Commanders have now been given special powers to deal with any emergency and make quick decisions, so that they do not have to wait for orders from Delhi during times of crisis.
The army became the first responder even in disasters
General Dwivedi praised the Indian Army's role in disaster management, not just on the battlefield. He said that India often acts as a "first responder" for neighboring countries during natural disasters. Citing the example of the floods in Pathankot, Punjab, he described how an Army helicopter rescued CRPF personnel from a collapsing building. The Army recently conducted relief operations in 10 states, saving the lives of more than 30,000 people.