Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Friday issued a stern warning to Pakistan, saying the neighbour must stop sponsoring terrorism on its soil if it wishes to retain its standing on the global stage. Speaking to troops at Anupgarh in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district, he added that the restraint shown by India during Operation Sindoor would not necessarily be repeated in any future conflict.
“India, as a country, is fully prepared this time. And this time, it will not show the restraint that it showed during Operation Sindoor 1.0. This time we will take a step forward and act in a manner that will make Pakistan think whether it wants to remain on the world map or not,” Gen. Dwivedi said.
He urged soldiers to stay ready: “Keep yourselves fully prepared now, if God wills, the opportunity will come soon.” The Army chief also said India had exposed evidence of terrorist hideouts in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor — evidence that, he said, might otherwise have been concealed.
Gen. Dwivedi said the international community stood with India after the April 22 Pahalgam attack and described strikes carried out under Operation Sindoor: nine targets inside Pakistan were hit — seven by the Army and two by the Air Force — aimed at terrorist bases, not ordinary citizens. He reiterated that as long as Pakistan sponsors terrorists, such targets will be struck.
Addressing civilians near the international border, the Army chief called them partners in the nation’s defence, saying border populations stand “shoulder to shoulder” with soldiers and urging their continued support in any future struggle.
