Operation Sindoor still active, any Pakistani provocation will be met firmly: Army chief

New Delhi, January 13. Chief of Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi has said that India’s counter-terror operation Operation Sindoor remains ongoing and warned Pakistan that any future provocation will invite a strong and decisive response.

Addressing his first press conference of 2026 here on January 13 ahead of Army Day that is observed every year on January 15, Gen Dwivedi revealed that the Indian Army had fully mobilised its forces during the operation and was prepared to launch ground offensives if Islamabad had escalated the situation.

“We expanded the conventional space. If Pakistan had made any mistake, we were fully ready to go in,” he said.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, 2025, following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, carried out by The Resistance Front, a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. In a swift and coordinated response, Indian forces struck multiple terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), killing more than 100 terrorists and destroying key launchpads and training facilities.

Pakistan attempted retaliation through missile and drone strikes, which were intercepted by India, prompting Indian strikes on Pakistani airfields. A ceasefire was eventually announced on May 10.

Gen Dwivedi described the operation as a landmark in joint military action, calling it “the best example of tri-service synergy under clear political direction and full freedom to act”. He said the operation unfolded in two phases – a 22-minute initial strike on May 7 followed by 88 hours of sustained military pressure until May 10 – which fundamentally altered the strategic balance.

“By striking deep, dismantling terror infrastructure and puncturing long-standing nuclear rhetoric, Operation Sindoor reset old assumptions,” he said.

On the current security situation, the Army Chief said the western front and Jammu and Kashmir remain sensitive but firmly under control since the ceasefire. He added that counter-terror operations had yielded significant results over the past year.

“In 2025, 31 terrorists were eliminated, 65 percent of them of Pakistani origin, including the three attackers behind the Pahalgam incident who were neutralised in Operation Mahadev,” he said. According to him, the number of active local terrorists has now fallen to single digits, while new recruitment has almost dried up, with only two cases recorded last year.

Gen Dwivedi said the improving security situation is reflected in rising development activity, a revival of tourism and a peaceful Amarnath Yatra, which saw more than four lakh pilgrims in 2025 – well above the five-year average.

“The shift from terrorism to tourism is clearly taking shape in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

Regarding the Northeast, Gen Dwivedi said that the security situation in the region – particularly in Manipur – showed significant improvement in 2025 due to the neutral, transparent and decisive actions taken by security forces, backed by proactive government measures.

He said that sustained security operations and political initiatives had helped stabilise Manipur over the past year. He pointed to the peaceful hosting of the Durand Cup, the revival of cultural festivals and the renewal of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki insurgent groups in September 2025 as key indicators of returning normalcy.

The Army chief also underlined India’s efforts to shield the Northeast from the fallout of instability in neighbouring Myanmar. He said a comprehensive, multi-agency security grid involving the Indian Army, Assam Rifles and the Ministry of Home Affairs has been put in place to prevent any spillover of violence across the border. With Myanmar having completed the second phase of its elections, he added, there would now be greater scope for more effective engagement between the two sides.

The Army chief also highlighted the Indian Army’s extensive humanitarian operations across India and neighbouring countries under its Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) framework, praising the troops for their unwavering commitment during rescue missions.

Gen Dwivedi said the force had been deployed across two neighbouring nations and 10 Indian states in 2025, helping rescue more than 30,000 people. Recalling one of the most dramatic operations, he referred to the Punjab floods in Pathankot, where an Army aviation helicopter airlifted CRPF personnel trapped in a building that was on the verge of collapse.

Internationally, the Indian Army undertook major relief missions in Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, and in Myanmar through Operation Brahma after a powerful earthquake struck the country.

On the domestic front, the Army chief said the military had been able to respond swiftly, particularly in border states, where divisional commanders have been empowered to act even before formal requests are received from civil authorities. He said these interventions reaffirmed the Army’s role as the country’s natural first responder during disaster situations.

Gen Dwivedi also paid tribute to the troops of 14 Raj Rifles in Dharali, Uttarakhand, who continued rescue and coordination efforts despite losing one junior commissioned officer and nine personnel in the line of duty.

“That, in essence, reflects the spirit and motivation of the military,” he said.

He added that the Army’s 17 dedicated HADR “Bricks” – specialised disaster-response units announced earlier in 2025 – are steadily being established across the country. Strategically positioned nationwide, these units are equipped to act as rapid-response teams, particularly in border regions, ensuring faster and more effective relief and rescue operations during emergencies.