Op Sindoor 2.0? Indian Army Chief Warns Pakistan To Stop Sponsoring Terrorism Or Be Erased From Map
Indian Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi. Image courtesy: X.com/@adgpi
India has delivered its strongest warning yet to Pakistan, with Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi declaring that Islamabad must abandon state-sponsored terrorism if it wants to “retain its place in geography.” Speaking at an Army post in Rajasthan’s Anupgarh, the Chief of Army Staff said the Indian military would not show restraint in future, signalling the possibility of another Operation Sindoor.
His remarks underscored the hardened stance of India’s armed forces since the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year, an assault that triggered a series of Indian strikes deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The episode, codenamed Operation Sindoor, has reshaped the tenor of Indo-Pak security dynamics.
What did the Army chief say?
“This time we will not maintain the restraint that we had in Operation Sindoor 1.0. This time we will do something that will make Pakistan think whether it wants to retain its place in geography or not. If Pakistan wants to retain its place in geography, then it must stop state-sponsored terrorism,” General Dwivedi told soldiers.
He urged troops to remain prepared, adding: “If God wills, you’ll get an opportunity soon. All the best.” His statement reinforced the message that the military leadership sees future action as contingent on Pakistan’s behaviour, rather than on any hesitation in New Delhi.
How did Operation Sindoor shape this warning?
The remarks came the same day Air Chief Marshal AP Singh confirmed that during Operation Sindoor in May, Indian forces had downed four to five Pakistani fighter jets, including US-made F-16s and Chinese JF-17s. Conducted on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, the operation targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with long-range precision weapons.
The campaign pushed both countries close to war before a ceasefire was reached on May 10. Indian officials later revealed that Pakistani commanders appealed directly to halt the offensive. General Dwivedi has emphasised that India ensured “no innocent lives would be harmed and no military targets would be destroyed,” limiting strikes to terrorist hideouts and training facilities.
How is India framing its message to the world?
General Dwivedi said India had presented evidence to the international community of the terrorist sites destroyed during Operation Sindoor, arguing that “had India not done so, Pakistan would have hidden the truth.” At the same event in Rajasthan, he honoured BSF 140th Battalion Commandant Prabhakar Singh, Rajputana Rifles Major Ritesh Kumar, and Havildar Mohit Gaira for their roles in the operation.
The ceremony and accompanying warning served not only as recognition for soldiers but also as a signal to Pakistan and the international community: India intends to hold Islamabad accountable for cross-border terrorism, and is prepared to escalate if provoked again.
