Srinagar, Oct 03 (KNO): Warning Pakistan that it risks losing place on the world map if it continues to sponsor terrorism, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Friday said that India will not exercise the restraint it had shown during ‘Operation Sindoor 1.0.’
Addressing a press conference ahead of the Air Force Day parade at Anupgarh in Jaipur, General Dwivedi, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “India, as a country, is fully prepared this time. And this time, it will not show the restraint that it exhibited during Operation Sindoor 1.0. This time we will take a step forward and act in a manner that will make Pakistan think whether it wants to remain on the world map or not."
Asking soldiers to remain prepared, the Army Chief said, "Keep yourselves fully prepared now, if god wants, the opportunity will come soon."
General Dwivedi said that ‘Operation Sindoor’ exposed terrorist hideouts deep inside Pakistan. “India has given evidence to the world. Had we not unearthed this proof, Pakistan would have hidden all of it,” he said, adding, “Entire world stood with India when we launched Operation Sindoor to avenge April 22 Pahalgam terror.”
He said the Indian military hit nine targets inside Pakistan, of which seven were hit by the Army and two by the Air Force.
"We had identified the targets because we only wanted to harm the terrorists. We had aimed to strike their bases. We have no complaints against ordinary Pakistani citizens, so long as their country does not sponsor terrorists. Because terrorists were being sponsored, those terrorist targets were hit," General Dwivedi said.
Replying to a question about his appeal to those living near the international border, he said, "We consider the border population not as ordinary civilians but as soldiers. That means they stand shoulder to shoulder with us in the battle. This is crucial because the coming struggle is the nation's struggle, not just the Army's."
The Army chief said history bears witness that during the 1965 and 1971 wars, ordinary citizens stood shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers. "We would want them to join us in the days ahead as well. I want to thank them -- their zeal boosts the morale of our soldiers," he said.
Earlier General Dwivedi visited forward areas including Bikaner Military Station to review the operational readiness of troops.
"During the visit he interacted with senior military leadership, veterans, civil dignitaries and soldiers, reiterating the Army’s focus on modernisation, combat preparedness, strengthening technological capabilities and operational excellence," an Army statement said, as per KNO.
"The COAS felicitated veterans Lt Col Hem Singh Shekhawat (Retd), Lt Col Birbal Bishnoi (Retd), Risaldar Bhanwar Singh (Retd) and Hav Nakat Singh (Retd) for their valuable contributions towards nation building," it added.
"He also interacted with all ranks, emphasising the rapidly evolving nature of warfare and the Army’s commitment to integrating UAS and counter-UAS technologies across the operational spectrum to enhance adaptability and preparedness against emerging threats," the statement said.
Addressing the formation, including veterans of Bikaner, the Chief Of Army Staff (COAS) commended the troops for their dedication, steadfast commitment to duty and effective multi-agency coordination, while operating in the demanding desert and semi-desert terrain. He highlighted the importance of technology absorption at all levels to sustain high operational readiness.
"The COAS further underscored that the current complex security environment demands seamless synergy between the Armed Forces, government agencies, industry, academia and society, adopting a Whole-of-Nation approach to defence preparedness. He also highlighted the significance of Military-Civil Fusion and lauded the contribution of veterans in strengthening India’s defence preparedness and battlefield dominance," it added—(KNO)