'Operation Sindoor not over': Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi says India ready to strike again if provoked
PTC Web Desk: India's Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi delivered a pointed message at the National Defence Academy's 150th Passing Out Parade in Khadakwasla, Pune on Saturday: "Operation Sindoor has not concluded. What exists now is merely a ceasefire-like pause — and the armed forces are actively preparing for what could become Operation Sindoor 2.0".
"The operation has only paused. It has not ended," General Dwivedi told the graduating cadets, making clear that all three services remain on high operational readiness. His remarks carry significant weight given the tense backdrop against which they were delivered.
The Army Chief framed Operation Sindoor not just as a military response, but as a statement of national doctrine. India, he said, had demonstrated precisely how it would respond to provocation: swiftly, precisely and without hesitation. He urged the 355 newly commissioned officers to carry that standard forward from the very first day of their service.
"This operation has set a benchmark. Every officer passing out today inherits the responsibility of upholding it," he said, reviewing the parade as the Reviewing Officer. The ceremony featured a flypast by Su-30 MKI fighter jets, Chetak helicopters, the Sarang Helicopter Aerobatics Team and a display by the Aakashganga Skydiving Team.
Addressing the fresh batch of officers, General Dwivedi outlined the realities of contemporary conflict in terms that went beyond textbook theory.
He noted that modern warfare has become entirely transparent; every troop movement, every deployment, every activity near borders is under round-the-clock surveillance. That demands extraordinary discipline and responsibility, especially when civilian lives in border areas are at stake.
He also stressed that information warfare cannot be won through force alone. It is won when citizens trust their institutions, and when institutions earn that trust. "A nation where people and institutions believe in each other is always on stronger ground," he said.
On technology, the Army Chief was direct: the speed of modern conflict demands faster decisions, which means automation and artificial intelligence are no longer optional. "AI plays a crucial role in managing the volume of resources and the pace at which we must act," he added.
General Dwivedi offered a concrete timeline on the long-pending question of integrated theatre commands. He confirmed that the complete report on theatrisation has been submitted to the Defence Minister and is currently under review at multiple levels.
Under the proposed structure, the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force would retain responsibility for the preparedness and resources of their respective services, while dedicated Theatre Commanders would oversee joint operational mandates.
The Army Chief expressed cautious optimism that the system could be operational on the ground within the next two to three years, provided the core interests of all three services are honoured in the final framework.
Zooming out to the broader picture, General Dwivedi described the Indian Army's ongoing evolution under its 'Decade of Transformation' initiative, a push to reshape the force into a technology-enabled, future-ready fighting machine.
New structures being built from within existing resources include the First Regiment Battalion, Divyastra Batteries, Shaktiman Regiment, and Bharat Battalion. The common thread running through all of them, he noted, is a central role for the younger generation of officers and soldiers.
Operation Sindoor was launched in the early hours of May 7, 2025, in direct response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed civilian lives. In a precisely coordinated strike lasting just 24 minutes, Indian forces destroyed nine major terrorist launchpads and infrastructure across Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
Satellite imagery subsequently revealed that Indian strikes had also targeted Pakistani airbases at Sargodha, Nur Khan, Bholari, and Sukkur, causing significant damage. According to the Indian Army, the operation resulted in the elimination of over 100 Pakistani personnel along with several high-profile terrorist figures.
- With inputs from agencies
