Lt Gen Manoj Katiyar, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command, warned that any future terror strike sponsored by Pakistan or its proxies will invite a response even more severe than India’s recent military action. He made the remarks in Chandigarh during the diamond jubilee commemoration of the 1965 India-Pakistan war.

The Army commander emphasised that Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that killed 26 civilians, remains active and ongoing. He underlined that while the May 10 ceasefire restored calm, India’s operational readiness is continuous and without pause.

Operation Sindoor marked India’s most significant cross-border punitive action in recent years. On May 7, Indian armed forces executed pre-dawn missile strikes on nine targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Among the targets were Jaish-e-Mohammad’s Bahawalpur stronghold and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Muridke base camp, both strategic hubs of Pakistan-backed terror infrastructure.

Pakistan responded with a three-day military offensive and heavy shelling along the border, escalating to direct strikes on Indian military positions. However, India retaliated by targeting key Pakistani airbases, delivering what Lt Gen Katiyar described as a “crushing response.”

The commander stressed that the objective of the Pahalgam attack was to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir, spread fear through targeted killings, and foment communal tensions across India. He characterised this as an ongoing attempt by Pakistan to undermine India’s secular identity and internal cohesion.

Recalling lessons from the 1965 war, Lt Gen Katiyar highlighted the enduring importance of coordination between the Army and Air Force, as well as the balance between defensive and offensive planning. He reiterated that technology alone does not win wars—the determination and morale of soldiers remain decisive.

He noted that during the 1965 conflict, Pakistan fielded technologically advanced tanks and fighter aircraft, yet failed to prevail due to the superior motivation and resilience of Indian troops. “The man behind the machine is more important than the machine itself,” the senior officer said.

Looking ahead, Lt Gen Katiyar identified drones as a transformative factor in future warfare. Pointing to their use during Operation Sindoor, he confirmed that unmanned systems will be central to India’s operational doctrine. The Army, he said, is rapidly integrating drones at scale for surveillance, strike, logistics, and multi-role functions in the battlefield.

He further revealed that the Indian military is tapping internal talent pools to innovate and develop indigenous drone technologies tailored for combat needs. He projected that drones will not remain limited to frontline operations but will find application in a wide range of military domains.

Responding to questions, the Western Command chief reaffirmed the timeless principle of war—destroying the enemy and capturing territory remain the fundamental means to secure victory. At the same time, India’s approach will rest on swift retaliation and escalation dominance to deter any adversary misadventure.

Finally, Lt Gen Katiyar warned that while India hopes Pakistan refrains from further hostilities, past experience dictates caution. The Army remains vigilant, and if another terror strike occurs, India’s reply will surpass the intensity of Operation Sindoor. This, he stressed, is both a message of deterrence and a continuing posture of operational preparedness.

Based On A PTI Report