JAIPUR (Oct 3) – Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Friday issued a sharp warning to Pakistan, declaring that India will not exercise the same restraint it showed during “Operation Sindoor 1.0” if provoked again.
During his visit to the border areas of Rajasthan, the Army Chief told troops to remain vigilant and united, stressing that India’s patience should not be mistaken for weakness.
“Next time, India will not exercise the restraint that it showed during Operation Sindoor 1.0. The action taken will be such that Pakistan will have to consider whether it wants to remain part of the globe,” General Dwivedi said while addressing soldiers in Sriganganagar district.
Operation Sindoor 1.0: A decisive strike
Operation Sindoor was launched after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. Indian forces carried out cross-border strikes on terror camps inside Pakistan.
General Dwivedi emphasised that during the operation, only terrorist hideouts, training centres, and masterminds were targeted, avoiding civilian casualties. “If India hadn’t shown the evidence of the destroyed terror camps, Pakistan would have denied it,” he said.
At a ceremony, the Army Chief honoured Commandant Prabhakar Singh of the 140th Battalion of the BSF, Major Ritesh Kumar of the Rajputana Rifles, and Havildar Mohit Gera for their roles in Operation Sindoor.
He also recalled his personal ties to the region, saying, “When I was commissioned in 1984 and joined my unit in 1985, the first place I was taken to was Khajuwala. After nearly five to six years, I am glad to be back and witness the preparedness of our forces.”
“The fight is of the whole nation”
General Dwivedi said Operation Sindoor had strengthened both the Army and civilians. Quoting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, he added: “Whenever a woman applies sindoor on her forehead, she remembers the jawan at the frontier. That bond is sacred.”
Concluding his visit, the Army Chief praised the operational readiness of troops and urged them to continue serving with dedication, discipline, and unity.