Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi: Operation Sindoor Strikes Sent Clear Message to Pakistan on Terrorism

DRASS, KARGIL, INDIA JULY 26, 2025: The Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, said today that the surgical strikes executed during “Operation Sindoor” have delivered a clear and plain message to Pakistan that the advocates of terrorism are certain to face direct consequences. He was speaking at the Kargil War Memorial on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. General Dwivedi said that India has made a new normal for itself on how to respond to cross-border aggression.

Operation Sindoor: The Last Retaliation

General Dwivedi asserted that Operation Sindoor was a message to Pakistan, and it was a direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack carried out on April 22, 2025, and the death of 26 innocent tourists. This time India, according to him, “did not only mourn but showed that the response will be quite decisive.” The operation, which was launched on May 7, 2025, consists of precision strikes against nine terror infrastructures across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) affiliated with the groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

The Army Chief highlighted that India has offered peace, but “cowardice” has been shown by Pakistan in response and answered with “courage.” He confirmed that the operation has successfully eliminated high-value terrorist targets across the border with “zero collateral damage.” He thus further noted that this revealed India’s capability for precision-coordinated military action.

India’s New Strategic Approach and Modernization

General Dwivedi remarked that “faith shown by the countrymen and the free hand given by the government” enabled the Indian Army for a “befitting surgical response.” He made clear that “any power that tries to challenge the unity, integrity, and sovereignty of India or harm the people will be given a befitting reply,” making this his “new normal of India.”

He further lauded India’s strong air defense, which served as an “impregnable wall” for Pakistani drones and missiles during the four-day conflict following the initial strikes. The Army Chief elaborated on internal transformation and modernization activities within the force, including the creation of the ‘Rudra’ brigade that would combine infantry, mechanized infantry, armored units, artillery, special forces, and unmanned aerial units. In addition, every infantry battalion has a drone platoon within it, and the Shaktiban regiment in artillery will be outfitted with drones, counter-drones, and loiter munitions to boost capability immensely.

Strategic Impact on Pakistan. 

India officially termed Operation Sindoor “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” but this is certainly not the impression to have taken hold in Pakistan. Satellite imagery, now being evaluated by geo-intelligence experts, suggests that Indian missiles might have struck the highly sensitive Kirana Hills in Pakistan’s Sargodha district—a location reportedly associated with Pakistan’s nuclear program. Indian authorities initially denied attacking this. Imagery shows a possible impact zone and repaired runways at Sargodha airbase nearby, which suggests damage sustained during the strikes.

The operation is said to have damaged 11 out of Pakistan’s 13 major airbases, which constituted a blow to the country’s air defense network and military infrastructure. Quick and precise action on the part of Indian forces, coupled with their effective air defense against any retaliation from Pakistan, sends a strong message about India’s upgraded military capabilities to counter cross-border terrorism directly.

Reported by: Herohind News Desk