India’s military operation targeting militant infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, known as Operation Sindoor, is still ongoing, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said on Tuesday, warning that any provocation by Pakistan could trigger renewed attacks.
Speaking at his first press conference of the year, General Dwivedi said the Indian armed forces remain on high alert and are fully prepared to launch ground operations if required. His remarks were reported by Indian media outlet NDTV.
The operation was launched on May 7 last year in response to a deadly militant attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. The attack was claimed by The Resistance Front, an affiliate of the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
According to Indian claims, more than 100 militants were killed in strikes on what New Delhi described as terrorist hideouts inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan later responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Indian military and civilian installations, prompting India to strike several Pakistani air bases. Both sides announced a ceasefire on May 10.
General Dwivedi said Operation Sindoor demonstrated effective tri-service coordination under clear political direction, allowing commanders full operational freedom. He added that the operation was executed with precision, striking deep inside enemy territory during an 88-hour period from May 7 to May 10, challenging what he described as Pakistan’s long-standing nuclear deterrence rhetoric.
He noted that during the operation, Indian troop deployment was such that forces were ready to begin a ground offensive at any moment if Pakistan made a strategic mistake.
Despite the ceasefire, the situation along the western border and in Jammu and Kashmir remains sensitive but firmly under control, the army chief said. He added that 31 militants were killed in 2025 so far, 65 percent of whom were of Pakistani origin. He also confirmed that three attackers involved in the Pahalgam incident were killed during Operation Mahadev.
General Dwivedi said the number of active local militants has now dropped to single digits.
