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Sharing a startling revelation about Operation Sindoor, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday said the Indian Army was fully prepared to launch ground operations if Pakistan had attempted any misadventure during the Operation, underlining that India has significantly expanded the scope for conventional military action.
Addressing an annual press conference ahead of Army Day on January 15, Gen Dwivedi said India had carried out a “major mobilisation” during the Operation and was ready for a “ground offensive” if the situation had escalated. His remarks come days after multiple drones were spotted along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
While declining to share operational details, the Army chief said the security situation in the Union Territory remained “sensitive but firmly under control”.
Gen Dwivedi reiterated that Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025, is still underway and that Indian forces continue to remain on high alert.
“As far as our eyes and ears are concerned, since Operation Sindoor is underway, they will remain fully alert. Under this, we have already put in place whatever actions are required from our side,” he said in response to a question on terror camps operating in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Based on available intelligence, he said nearly eight terror camps remain active, two opposite the International Border (IB) and six along the LoC, with some presence or training activity still continuing.
“If any such activity happens again, we will certainly carry out whatever action we intend to take,” he added.
During the tri-services operation, the Army, Navy and Air Force targeted nine terror camps. The strikes led to a four-day standoff between India and Pakistan, marked by blackouts and air raid sirens along the LoC and the International Border.
‘Expanded the conventional space’
The Army Chief said earlier assessments had suggested that the space for conventional military action was shrinking, with conflicts quickly escalating from sub-conventional levels to the nuclear domain. India’s response during Operation Sindoor, he said, had challenged that assumption.
“This time, the action we took, especially the firing in Jammu and Kashmir and the way we responded, showed that we expanded the conventional space,” Gen Dwivedi said, adding that around 100 Pakistani personnel were eliminated during the operation.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, striking camps deep inside Pakistan and PoK. Pakistan subsequently attempted strikes on military and civilian installations, prompting strong Indian counter-attacks. Islamabad later approached New Delhi on May 10 to reach a ceasefire understanding.
Referring to the 88-hour standoff, Gen Dwivedi said the scale of India’s mobilisation was such that ground operations could have been launched had Pakistan made “any mistake”.
Warning over drone intrusions
The COAS also said India had conveyed its concerns to Pakistan over repeated drone intrusions across the border. According to military sources, five drone intrusions were detected on Sunday evening along the frontier in the Jammu region.
“This matter was discussed between DGMOs today, and they have been told that this is unacceptable to us, and please put a stop to it. This has been conveyed to them,” Gen Dwivedi said.
Northern border and de-escalation with China
On the northern borders, Gen Dwivedi said the situation remained stable but required constant vigilance.
“The situation along the northern front remains stable, but needs constant vigil. Renewed contact and confidence-building measures are contributing to the gradual normalisation of the situation,” he said.
“Concurrently, capability development and infrastructure enhancement are progressing through a whole-of-government approach,” he added.
Gen Dwivedi, however, acknowledged that “de-escalation and de-induction” are yet to take place, noting a “sense of urgency” on both sides to keep the border calm and resolve outstanding issues.
However, both armies remain forward deployed in high-altitude areas for the sixth consecutive winter, pending the restoration of the status quo that existed before April 2020.
Rejection of China’s Shaksgam Valley claim
The Chief of Army Staff also issued a firm warning over China’s claims and infrastructure activity in the Shaksgam Valley, reiterating that India considers the 1963 agreement between Pakistan and China on the region to be illegal.
India, he said, does not approve of any activity in the Valley and “reserves the right to take necessary measures to safeguard its interests”. His remarks follow China’s recent reiteration of its territorial claims, dismissing India’s objections and defending projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Ravi Shankar
Dr Ravi Shankar has over two decades of experience in communications, print journalism, electronic media, documentary film making and new media.
He makes regular appearances on national television news channels as a commentator and analyst on current and political affairs. Apart from being an acknowledged Journalist, he has been a passionate newsroom manager bringing a wide range of journalistic experience from past associations with India’s leading media conglomerates (Times of India group and India Today group) and had led global news-gathering operations at world’s biggest multimedia news agency- ANI-Reuters. He has covered Parliament extensively over the past several years. Widely traveled, he has covered several summits as part of media delegation accompanying the Indian President, Vice President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister across Asia, Africa and Europe.
