KARGIL, India— General Upendra Dwivedi, the head of the Indian Army, said on Saturday, July 26, 2025, that the surgical strikes that took place during Operation Sindoor sent a clear message to Pakistan: those who support terrorism will not be spared. General Dwivedi spoke at the Kargil War Memorial on Vijay Diwas and said that the operation was a direct response to the “deep wound” of the Pahalgam terror assault, which happened on April 22, 2025.
“Operation Sindoor was a message to Pakistan and a response to the Pahalgam terror incident, which hurt the whole country deeply. “This time India didn’t just mourn; they showed that the response will be strong,” Gen. Dwivedi said. He said that India had set a “new normal” by giving a “stern response to the enemy.”
The Army Chief stressed that the Indian Army had a “free hand” from the government, which allowed for a “befitting surgical response.” He went on to say, “Any power that tries to undermine India’s unity, integrity, or sovereignty, or hurt its people, will get a fitting response.” This is how things are in India now.
General Dwivedi said that during Operation Sindoor, the army killed nine high-value terrorists in Pakistan without causing any damage to other people or property. He said, “India won a decisive victory in Operation Sindoor by effectively targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan.” The army went after the terrorists’ infrastructure and stopped Pakistan’s other aggressive measures, which led to a clear win.
He said that Pakistan was being “cowardly” even while India was trying to make peace. General Dwivedi talked about how well India responded to “Pakistani action on May 8 and 9.” He said that India’s “army air defense stood like an impregnable wall that missiles or drones could not get through.”
The Army Chief also talked about how the Indian Army is modernizing and how it is becoming a powerful force in the world. He said that “Rudra,” a composite brigade made up of infantry, mechanized infantry, armored units, artillery, special forces, and unmanned aerial units, would be formed to provide integrated logistics and combat support. The Bhairav Light Commando Unit, a special strike squad, has also been set up to “surprise the enemy at the border.” A drone platoon is now part of every infantry battalion, and the “Shaktiban regiment” in artillery units has drones, counter-drones, and loiter munitions, which improve the capabilities of composite batteries. General Dwivedi said that the army’s air defense would be much stronger if it used indigenous missile weapons.
General Dwivedi talked about how important Vijay Diwas is for the whole country, calling it a “festival for the entire nation.” He also remembered how Prime Minister Narendra Modi was at the Kargil victory’s silver jubilee celebrations last year. He honored the warriors who gave their lives to keep the country safe and let people live “a peaceful life with dignity.”