Inside Operation Sindoor: Army Chief Elaborates Upon Pakistan Surrender and the Effects of Surgical Strikes

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Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi has revealed decisive turning points that forced Pakistan to surrender during Operation Sindoor. Dwivedi attributed India's success during the strike to “two turning points” in the brief combat.

Two Turning Points in Operation Sindoor 

While addressing the annual press conference in New Delhi, the Army chief said that the Armed Forces were given complete freedom to "act or respond" during Operation Sindoor. He also pointed out "certain orders" given to the three services to prepare in case the fighting escalates.

"I think we can understand the turning point at two stage. The first turning point was the 22-minute strike that we conducted on terror targets. During that 22 minutes, the decision making cycle of the opposite side was completely bewildered," Upendra Dwivedi told the press briefing.

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Elaborating on the Indian strikes, which caught Pakistan by surprise, the Army chief said it was a "chaotic situation" on the other side of the border. However, India didn't want to continue the fighting as the objectives of the military operation were achieved.

"It took time for them to understand the situation. After that, they started attacking with whatever they had: some started attacking with stones, some with drone or missiles. It was a chaotic situation and they didn't know what is happening. And the mismanagement that was happening on the other side, we gave a calibrated response. We didn't want to take the fighting further because our politico-military aims were achieved," he said.

"The second turning point was something which I cannot say in the public. But on the morning of May 10, there were certain orders which were given to all the three forces in case the fighting escalates. The message was clear on what was needed to be done and understood by those who needed to understand it," he said.

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He further said Pakistan had clear knowledge, through satellite imagery, of which naval ships and aircraft were being moved and to where.

“India does not approve of any activity in Shaksgam Valley”

The Army chief, addressing a press conference here, said the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China has been stable, but it needs constant vigilance.

Dwivedi said, “In 2025, 31 terrorists were eliminated, of which 65% were Pakistan origin, including the three perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack neutralised in Operation Mahadev. Active local terrorists are now in single digits. Terrorist recruitment is almost non-existent, with only two in 2025.”

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About Operation Sindoor

ndian Army, Navy, and Air Force carried out joint missions as part of Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists.

In this legitimate act of self-defence, Indian forces attacked nine terrorist facilities in a well-coordinated overnight operation. The targets included the infrastructure of JeM, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen in Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muridke.

The operation was completed in just 22 minutes, a point Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated several times, saying Pakistan surrendered within 22 minutes.

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Final Thoughts

The Indian Army Chief has said that Operation Sindoor was the best example of tri-services synergy with full freedom to act and respond. He said the Operation remains ongoing, and any misadventure by the adversary will be dealt with effectively.

“Concurrently, capability development and infrastructure enhancement are progressing through a whole-of-government approach,” he added.

The Army chief said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir remains sensitive but firmly under control.

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