We were ready to launch ground operation: Army Chiefs big Operation Sindoor reveal
General Dwivedi highlighted that Operation Sindoor was the strongest demonstration yet of jointness between the Army, Navy, and Air Force, carried out under an unambiguous political mandate.
PTC News Desk: Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday stated that the Indian armed forces were fully ready to carry out ground operations had Pakistan attempted any provocation during Operation Sindoor. He emphasized that India has now widened its scope for conventional military action against Pakistan to a significant extent.
Speaking at a press briefing, General Dwivedi said, “During those 88 hours, the Army mobilised in such a manner that if Pakistan had made any wrong move, we were completely prepared to initiate ground operations.” He explained that earlier defence assessments assumed that the window for conventional warfare was narrowing because conflicts could rapidly escalate from sub-conventional clashes to the nuclear level. However, India’s actions during Operation Sindoor proved that the situation on the battlefield has changed.
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 last year in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 25 tourists and a pony operator were killed. The military strikes targeted terrorist camps deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), eliminating more than 100 terrorists. In response, Pakistan attempted strikes on Indian civilian and military sites, but India retaliated forcefully, prompting Islamabad to seek a ceasefire arrangement by May 10.
‘OP SINDOOR SHOWED TRI-SERVICE COORDINATION’
General Dwivedi highlighted that Operation Sindoor was the strongest demonstration yet of jointness between the Army, Navy, and Air Force, carried out under an unambiguous political mandate. The forces were given complete freedom to plan and respond as they found necessary.
He added that the operation is still active in certain aspects and cautioned Pakistan that any future provocation would be countered decisively.
The Army Chief said the situation along the western front in Jammu and Kashmir remains sensitive but fully under control since May 10, with security forces maintaining strict surveillance.
“In 2025, we eliminated 31 terrorists — roughly 65% of them Pakistanis. The three Pahalgam attackers were neutralised during Operation Mahadev. The number of active local terrorists has dropped to single digits, and fresh recruitment has almost stopped,” he added.