During a book launch event in New Delhi on Friday, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi stated that Operation Sindoor, India’s military offensive launched on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam terrorist attack, did not conclude in three days as was widely believed. He said the operation "continued for a longer duration."
"You may be thinking that on May 10, the war finished; no, because it continued for a long time, because so many decisions were to be taken, and beyond that, of course, it will be difficult for me to share here,” General Dwivedi said.
Addressing the persistent challenges at the India-Pakistan border, General Dwivedi said it was too early to assess the full impact of Operation Sindoor along the Line of Control. He noted that Pakistan-backed terrorism has not yet ended and that infiltration attempts continue along the border.
"It is too early to comment on the effect of Operation Sindoor on the LOC situation as it has not been that long since it ended. Has state-sponsored terrorism ended? I don't think so, because infiltration attempts are still happening on LOC. And we all know how many terrorists have been killed and how many of them have escaped,” he said.
The Army Chief emphasised the importance of synergy among the armed forces during the operation. He likened the Indian Army’s coordinated movements to a "rhythmic wave" in which "everyone was in sync and fully aware of their orders."
On the subject of theaterisation—the integration of the three services—he was clear about its inevitability, stating, “Theaterisation will happen, whether today or tomorrow. The question is only how long it will take.”
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He stressed that in modern warfare, where numerous agencies—from the tri-services to civil and cyber entities—are involved, a unified command structure is essential. "If one has to coordinate with so many agencies, theaterisation is the answer. Unity of command is paramount; a single commander is necessary to ensure effective execution,” he said, in response to recent divergent views expressed by other service chiefs.
General Dwivedi also welcomed the recent GST reforms, calling them a significant step toward accelerating the military’s modernisation. He noted that the reduction of GST on drones from 18 pc to 5 pc would enable "large-scale procurement". He added that the reforms would strengthen defence corridors and encourage greater participation from smaller enterprises. "Our defence corridors will receive a major fillip as investments increase. MSMEs and start-ups, which often struggle with limited resources, will benefit immensely from this GST cut,” he noted.
In a separate event in Chennai, Air Chief Marshal Singh Amar Preet Singh also highlighted the critical need for jointness and integration within the armed forces. He commended the "exceptional coordination" demonstrated in Operation Sindoor, citing it as a prime example of synergy between the three services and other agencies.
"Operation Sindoor has showcased exceptional coordination between the three services, synergy and integration within the armed forces and other agencies," he said while addressing graduating cadets at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. He urged the new officers to "keep furthering the spirit of jointness" as they advance in their careers, emphasising that such cooperation is vital for future operations.
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