“Best Example of Tri-Service Synergy with Full Freedom to Act”: Army Chief Says Op Sindoor Ongoing

New Delhi, January 13: Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday said that Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, stands as the best example of “tri-service synergy under a clear-cut political directive”, with the armed forces given full freedom to act or respond.

Addressing the annual Army press conference in the national capital, General Dwivedi said the operation remains ongoing and warned that any future misadventure would be dealt with firmly.

“Operation Sindoor was the best example of tri-service synergy under a clear-cut political directive and full freedom to act or respond,” the Army chief said, adding that the military response continues. “Any future misadventure will be resolutely responded to.”

He also acknowledged the coordinated efforts of multiple stakeholders at the national level, including Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), intelligence agencies, civic bodies, state administrations and key ministries such as the Ministry of Home Affairs and Railways.

Referring to the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, General Dwivedi said a decisive response 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 lasting 88 hours up to May 10, the operation reset strategic assumptions by striking deep, dismantling terror infrastructure and puncturing long-standing nuclear rhetoric,” he said.

He added that the Army successfully destroyed seven of the nine identified targets and played a pivotal role in ensuring a calibrated response to subsequent actions by Pakistan.

Highlighting the evolving global security environment, the Army chief said the past year had witnessed a sharp rise in armed conflicts worldwide. “These global shifts underline a simple reality — nations that stay prepared prevail. In this backdrop, Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s readiness, precision and strategic clarity,” he said.

General Dwivedi also expressed satisfaction with the Army’s progress in 2025 under various reform initiatives. “Through our initiatives under ‘JAI’ — Jointness, Atmanirbharta and Innovation — we can be justifiably satisfied with the progress made during the year,” he said, referring to the reform roadmap outlined by the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister.