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India's Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, recently provided a detailed account of the events leading up to Operation Sindoor, the military response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack. The general revealed that the armed forces were given a 'free hand' to plan and execute the retaliation just one day after the attack.

General Dwivedi stated that a crucial meeting was held on April 23, where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declared, 'enough is enough.' This meeting included all three service chiefs, who were in complete agreement that immediate action was necessary. According to the Army chief, the government's clear directive gave the military the confidence and political backing they needed to proceed. This unprecedented level of political clarity, he explained, significantly boosted the morale of the forces and empowered commanders on the ground to act decisively.

 

#WATCH | Speaking on Operation, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi says, "...On 23rd, we all sat down. This is the first time that RM (Defence Minister Rajnath Singh) said, 'enough is enough'. All three chiefs were very clear that something had to be done. The… pic.twitter.com/aSFRXsS2qn

— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025

Following the initial meeting, a plan to strike terrorist targets was formulated over the next two days. On April 25, General Dwivedi visited the Northern Command, where the strategy was finalised. The military identified nine key targets, ultimately deciding to strike seven of them. The Army chief confirmed that these targeted strikes successfully destroyed the terrorist infrastructure and resulted in the deaths of many terrorists.

General Dwivedi also mentioned a subsequent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 29. The Prime Minister's involvement underscored the national significance of the operation, which, according to the general, 'galvanised the whole nation.'

Operation Sindoor officially commenced on May 7, a fortnight after the Pahalgam attack. The operation successfully neutralised over 100 terrorists in both Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Adding to the details, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh recently disclosed that during Operation Sindoor, the Indian forces successfully shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one large Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft.

 

Also Read: IAF chief confirms 5 Pakistani fighter jets downed in Op Sindoor