New Delhi : At the Chanakya Defence Dialogue in the capital, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi issued a sharp warning to Pakistan, calling Operation Sindoor merely an “88-hour trailer” and asserting that India will not hesitate to respond decisively to any form of state-sponsored terrorism. “If Pakistan gives another opportunity, we will teach them once again how neighbours should behave,” he said during a fireside chat at the event.
Reaffirming India’s zero-tolerance stance, he declared, “Baat-cheet aur aatank saath nahi chal sakte.” Dialogue and terror cannot go hand in hand.
Operation Sindoor: A 4-Day Test Match with Long-Term Lessons
Referring to the high-intensity counter-operation conducted earlier, General Dwivedi said the Army achieved its objectives within 88 hours, describing it as merely a glimpse of India’s capabilities.
“The movie had not even begun; only a trailer was shown. And even that trailer ended within 88 hours,” he remarked.
He added that the Indian Army is fully prepared for any eventuality and will deliver a firm response to cross-border violence or attempts to destabilise peace.
India–China: 1,100 Ground Interactions Helped Ease Tensions
On India–China border relations, the Army Chief said that ties have improved since October 2024.
He credited the October 21 agreements in eastern Ladakh and the October 24 meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping for creating a more stable environment.
General Dwivedi revealed that nearly 1,100 ground-level interactions took place over the past year — averaging three meetings a day. Crucially, these talks have now shifted from Corps Commander-level to Battalion and Company Commander-level, allowing smaller disputes to be resolved on the spot instead of getting stuck in files.
Defence Diplomacy: Hard Power + Soft Power = Smart Power
Speaking on defence diplomacy, the Army Chief underlined the need for “smart power,” a blend of hard military strength and soft cultural connect.
“When military and diplomatic engagements grow, cooperation in training, technology exchange, and joint exercises becomes easier,” he said. Comparing the universality of music to military engagement, he noted, “Both transcend language barriers — and so does trust built through defence diplomacy.”
Why Theatreisation Is Crucial
General Dwivedi explained that theatreisation is essential given India’s two-front challenge and growing internal security complexities. He stressed that modern warfare is no longer confined to land, air, and sea.
“Cyber, space, information warfare and the electromagnetic spectrum are now critical domains. That’s why we are restructuring the force,” he said.
He highlighted the creation of the Rudra Brigade, an integrated formation combining infantry, mechanised units, tanks, artillery, air defence, engineers, and drones — enabling faster, joint-action capabilities.
Integration across the Army, Navy, Air Force, CAPFs, cyber and space elements is vital, he added. “Today’s conflict is multi-domain. No single service can fight alone.”
Future warfare, he said, demands speed. Theatre commanders will be empowered with all assets so that operations — even 88-hour ones — can be executed without delay.
Manipur: Violence Down, Public Confidence Returning
General Dwivedi reported significant improvement in Manipur’s security situation compared to 2023.
Incidents have dropped to 7–8 cases per month, weapon recoveries have increased, and festivals, sports events and community activities are helping normalcy return.
He expects further progress once the railway line reaches Imphal, saying, “When communities sit together and seek solutions themselves, change will come faster.”
Technology Absorption, AI, and Data-Centric Warfare
The Army Chief said the force has declared this the Year of Technology Absorption. Work is underway to enhance networking, data-centric operations, and integration of AI, quantum tech, drones and electronic warfare.
He noted that emergency procurement processes are being used to quickly bridge operational gaps and bring essential technology to the field.
