Ahead of the 78th Army Day, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi delivered a sharp, multifaceted strategic update during his annual press conference on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.1 The General addressed escalating territorial disputes with China and provided the first formal military confirmation of how close India and Pakistan came to a full-scale war in May 2025.
1. Defying Beijing: Shaksgam and CPEC 2.0
General Dwivedi unequivocally rejected China’s recent claims that it is “fully justified” in building infrastructure in the Shaksgam Valley (part of the Shaksgam Tract in PoK).
- The Stance: “We do not approve of any activity in Shaksgam Valley,” the Chief stated, reiterating that the 1963 China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement is illegal and unrecognized by New Delhi.
- CPEC 2.0: He also dismissed joint statements from Beijing and Islamabad regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), labeling it an illegal project cutting through sovereign Indian territory.
2. Operation Sindoor: The 88-Hour Conflict That Reset the LoC
In a major disclosure, the Army Chief detailed Operation Sindoor, the military response to the horrific April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack (which claimed 26 lives).5
- The Strike: Launched at 3:30 AM on May 7, 2025, India conducted high-precision strikes on nine terror launchpads. Seven were successfully destroyed.
- The “SOS”: The General revealed that Pakistan sent an “SOS” to the Indian DGMO on the morning of May 10 after seeing Indian tri-services movement—Navy carrier groups, Air Force strike formations, and Army pivot corps—preparing for full-scale escalation.
- The Outcome: The conflict lasted 88 hours. General Dwivedi dismissed claims by then-US President Donald Trump that he had brokered the peace, clarifying that the ceasefire was a result of India’s “calibrated military posture” and direct DGMO talks.
3. Current Security Assessment: Pakistan & China
| Frontier | Status as of Jan 14, 2026 | Key Update |
| Northern Front (LAC) | Stable but High Vigil | Constant vigilance is required as both sides maintain a robust presence. Trust-building measures are ongoing. |
| Western Front (LoC) | Sensitive but Controlled | 8 terror camps (6 along LoC, 2 along IB) remain active with 100-150 terrorists. |
| J&K Internal | Terrorism to Tourism | Local recruitment is at an all-time low (only 2 in 2025). 31 terrorists eliminated last year (65% Pakistani). |
4. Modernization: The Rocket-Missile Force
Looking ahead, General Dwivedi emphasized the urgent need for a dedicated Rocket-Missile Force for India.
- He confirmed the Army has successfully tested the Pinaka system with a 120km range, with future variants targeting up to 450km.
- Systems like Pralay and BrahMos are being integrated to ensure long-range precision-strike capabilities, similar to those established by China and Pakistan.