Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi warns of resolute response to any Pakistan misadventures as militancy ebbs in J&K

With Operation Sindoor still under way, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi today said that the Indian Army is "fully prepared" for any ground operations should Pakistan commit any "mistake". Army chief Upendra Dwivedi also said that militancy in Jammu and Kashmir has ebbed to its lowest levels in years.

Addressing an annual press conference of the Indian Army, General Dwivedi highlighted Operation Sindoor as an example of tri-service synergy carried out under clear political direction and full operational freedom. The operation, which remains ongoing, involved a 22-minute initiation on May 7 followed by coordinated actions lasting 88 hours, striking deep terror infrastructure and resetting strategic assumptions, he said.

The Army chief said that the country's counter-insurgency campaign in Jammu and Kashmir was showing tangible results, with active local terrorists down to single digits and fresh recruitment nearly extinguished in 2025, as the region witnesses a revival of development activity, tourism and a record turnout for the Sri Amarnath Yatra.


He added security conditions across the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir showed marked improvement in 2025, driven by decisive counter-terror operations, strong civil-military coordination and proactive government initiatives.

He said a comprehensive multi-agency security grid involving the Assam Rifles, the Army and the Union and state home ministries had helped insulate the Northeast from spillover effects of turbulence in neighbouring Myanmar. With the successful conduct of the second phase of elections in Myanmar, he said India expected to engage more effectively with its neighbour going forward.

He said neutral, transparent and firm action by security forces had stabilised Manipur, citing the peaceful conduct of the Durand Cup, resumption of cultural festivals and the renewal of the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki insurgent groups in September 2025 as key indicators of progress.

On Jammu and Kashmir, Dwivedi said the situation along the western front and in the Union Territory remained “sensitive but firmly under control” since May 10. In 2025, security forces eliminated 31 terrorists, about 65% of whom were of Pakistani origin, including the three perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack neutralised during Operation Mahadev. Active local terrorists were now in single digits, while recruitment had dropped sharply, with just two cases reported during the year, he said.

Dwivedi also underscored the Army’s role in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), noting that troops operated across two neighbouring countries and 10 Indian states, rescuing more than 30,000 people. He cited the Punjab floods in Pathankot, where an Army aviation helicopter carried out a daring rescue of CRPF personnel from a collapsing building.