Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday said “two turning points” in the Operation Sindoor last year attributed to India success during the brief combat with Pakistan.
‘Two Turning Points’ That Changed the Course
The first came with the swift and precise strike on terror targets.
“The first turning point was the 22-minute strike we carried out on the terror targets. Their decision-making cycle was completely disrupted, and it took them time to understand what was happening…”
He said the short but impactful operation created confusion within Pakistan’s command structure and demonstrated India’s ability to strike deep with accuracy.
The second turning point followed on the morning of May 10, when clear instructions were issued to all three wings of the armed forces in case the situation escalated further.
“There was a second turning point… On the morning of the 10th May, certain instructions were given to all three branches of the armed forces regarding what would happen if this war escalated. Those who needed to understand it, understood it… They (Pakistan) had complete information from satellites about which ship, which strike or pivot, which core unit, or which aircraft was moving where—when they connected the dots, they said that the time has come to stop this war here.”
Army ‘Fully Prepared’ as Operation Sindoor Continues
Addressing the Indian Army’s annual press conference, Gen Dwivedi said the armed forces had carried out major mobilisation during Operation Sindoor and remain ready for ground operations if Pakistan commits any “mistake.”
“We had done major mobilisation (during Operation Sindoor)… We are still fully prepared for ground offensives if Pakistan makes any mistake.”
He stressed that Operation Sindoor is still ongoing and that vigilance remains high.
“As far as our eyes and ears are concerned, because Operation Sindoor is still on, those eyes and ears will remain open. Under this, whatever action we have to take, we have already taken it forward.”
The Army chief said India can draw satisfaction from the security gains made in 2025, even as global conflicts rise.
“The past year saw a sharp rise in the number of armed conflicts worldwide. These global shifts underline a simple reality — nations that stay prepared prevail.”
He added that the situation along the north-western front remains stable but requires constant watch, with confidence-building measures helping restore normalcy along border areas.
Recalling the response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Gen Dwivedi said decisive action was taken at the highest level.
“Operation Sindoor was conceptualised and executed with precision. Through 22 minutes of initiation on May 7 and an orchestration that lasted 88 hours up to May 10, the operation reset strategic assumptions by striking deep, dismantling terror infrastructure, and puncturing the longstanding nuclear rhetoric,” he said.
He credited strong coordination among the three services and national agencies, calling the operation a clear example of effective tri-service synergy.