Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, unveiled critical insights into Operation Sindoor during his first press conference of 2026. He described the ongoing operation as a landmark demonstration of tri-service coordination, executed under unwavering political direction.

This revelation underscores India's evolving doctrine of rapid, calibrated responses to cross-border terrorism.

General Dwivedi emphasised that the armed forces received complete operational freedom to act decisively against any emerging threats. Speaking candidly, he affirmed that the Indian Army had mobilised its troops swiftly, standing fully prepared for ground operations should Pakistan err. "We were ready to launch ground ops," he stated, highlighting the scale of readiness during those tense hours.

The operation commenced with precision strikes on 7 May 2025, lasting a mere 22 minutes in its initial phase. What followed was an meticulously orchestrated 88-hour campaign concluding on 10 May. Through this, India reset longstanding strategic assumptions, striking deep into enemy territory to dismantle terror infrastructure.

In a bold puncturing of Pakistan's nuclear rhetoric, Operation Sindoor showcased India's ability to expand conventional space aggressively. General Dwivedi noted the Army's mobilisation ensured that any Pakistani misstep would trigger an immediate ground response. This posture deterred escalation, compelling a ceasefire on 10 May after Pakistani airfields were targeted.

The trigger for Operation Sindoor was the brutal terror attack on 22 April 2025 in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Claimed by The Resistance Front—a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba—the assault claimed numerous lives, demanding retribution. India's response targeted multiple terror sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Official estimates confirm over 100 terrorists were eliminated in these strikes, crippling key nodes of Pakistan-sponsored militancy. Pakistan's subsequent attempts at retaliation—via missiles and drones—were comprehensively thwarted by India's layered air defence systems. This interception underscored the superiority of indigenous defences like the Akash and S-400.

India's counter strikes on Pakistani airfields further tilted the balance, forcing Islamabad to the negotiating table. A ceasefire took hold on 10 May, stabilising the western front and Jammu and Kashmir. General Dwivedi affirmed that the situation remains sensitive yet firmly under control, with significant gains against terrorism logged over the past year.

Operation Sindoor exemplifies 'jointness' at its finest, integrating Army, Navy, and Air Force assets seamlessly. From real-time intelligence fusion to precision munitions deployment, the campaign leveraged indigenous platforms like Tejas fighters and BrahMos missiles. This self-reliance pierced through Pakistan's terror-proxy shield, validating India's Atmanirbhar Bharat push in defence.

General Dwivedi's warning to Pakistan was unequivocal: future provocations will invite firm, effective responses. No longer can nuclear sabre-rattling shield terror havens. The Army Chief's disclosure reveals a maturing strategic calculus—where limited, high-impact actions deter adventurism without full-scale war.

The operation's success stems from enhanced surveillance via satellites like RISAT and UAV swarms, feeding into integrated battle management systems. Ground forces, positioned along the LoC and International Border, were primed for exploitation, with mechanised strike corps on high alert. Artillery brigades stood ready to saturate known terror launchpads.

Pakistan's failed retaliation exposed vulnerabilities in its air defence architecture, neutralised by India's electronic warfare suites. The 88-hour timeline—from initiation to de-escalation—demonstrates compressed decision cycles honed through exercises like Bharat Shakti. This agility resets deterrence dynamics in South Asia.

Post-ceasefire, India has sustained pressure through non-kinetic means: diplomatic isolation of terror sponsors and bolstered border infrastructure. Operations in J&K have neutralised over 500 militants in 2025 alone, per Army data. General Dwivedi hailed these as enduring gains from Sindoor's momentum.

Operation Sindoor elevates India's threshold for response, blending precision strikes with ground manoeuvre threats. It signals to adversaries that terror impunity ends decisively. As General Dwivedi prepares to hand over the baton later this year, his legacy includes fortifying this resolve.

India's defence ecosystem—bolstered by private sector giants like TATA and Adani—played a pivotal role. Indigenous munitions and sensors proved battle-tested, reducing import dependence. This operational validation accelerates projects like AMCA and hypersonic vectors, eyeing future contingencies.

In retrospect, Operation Sindoor recalibrates the cost-benefit of Pakistan's proxy warfare. With tri-services primed for hybrid threats, India's western front stands fortified. General Dwivedi's candour reassures the nation: provocation meets retribution, swiftly and symmetrically.

Agencies