In a warning to Pakistan, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Friday said that India would no longer exercise the restraint it had shown during Operation Sindoor earlier this year and would deliver a far more decisive and destructive response if cross-border terrorism continues.
Addressing soldiers at the Army cantonment in Ghadsana village, Sriganganagar, General Dwivedi said, “We will wipe out Pakistan from the face of the earth if they don’t stop terrorism. Be prepared, God willing, the opportunity will come soon. This time, India will take such strong action that Pakistan will have to reconsider whether it wants to remain on this geographical map.”
The Army Chief emphasised that India is fully prepared for “Sindoor 2.0”, making it clear that any future action would be harsher than the earlier operation launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. “If Pakistan wants to continue its existence geographically, it must abandon state-sponsored terrorism. We will not show the restraint we exhibited during Operation Sindoor 1.0,” he said.
Recalling the May 7 offensive, General Dwivedi described Operation Sindoor as a watershed moment in India’s counter-terror campaign.
The Ministry of Defence had earlier stated that India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu & Kashmir, including high-impact air operations on the Nur Khan and Rahimyar Khan air bases.
Calling Operation Sindoor “a part of our lives,” General Dwivedi said the operation, named by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and dedicated to women, would forever remain etched in the memory of the armed forces. “Whenever a woman applies sindoor, she remembers the uniformed men who guard the nation’s borders,” he added.
During his visit to forward areas, including Bikaner Military Station, the Army Chief reviewed the operational readiness of troops. “The motive behind my visit here was to see our preparedness if Operation Sindoor 2.0 takes place. I am confident that if we get the chance, we are fully prepared. The results will certainly be in our favour,” he said.
He also honoured three personnel for their courage in Operation Sindoor – Commandant Prabhakar Singh of the 140th Battalion, BSF, Major Ritesh Kumar of the Rajputana Rifles, and Havildar Mohit Gera. “These men represent the courage and determination of the Indian Armed Forces,” he said.
General Dwivedi highlighted that the world had condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and stood firmly with India. He stressed that India had provided the international community with clear evidence of the destroyed terror camps, preventing Pakistan from hiding the truth.
With a stern warning that any future attack would invite overwhelming retaliation, the Army Chief concluded that India is “fully prepared to respond decisively and ensure Pakistan pays a heavy price if it continues to sponsor terror.”
(With agency inputs)