ISLAMABAD: Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has issued anunusually blunt warning to Pakistan, declaring that the recent cross-borderoperation codenamed “Sindoor” was merely a “trailer” that concluded in 88hours and that any future provocation would allow India to “teach Pakistanhow to behave responsibly with a neighbouring nation”.
Speaking at an event in New Delhi on Saturday, the Chief of Army Staffappeared to refer to the intense artillery exchanges and limited Indianincursions along the Line of Control in May 2025, which both sides haddownplayed as routine skirmishes until now. By assigning the dramatic title“Operation Sindoor” and claiming it ended precisely in 88 hours, GeneralDwivedi has officially elevated what Pakistan termed “unprovokedaggression” into a formal military operation, signalling a new level ofrhetorical escalation.
Military analysts in Islamabad view the statement as part of a broaderpattern of psychological posturing ahead of possible renewed hostilities.The timing is significant: the remarks come barely a week after bothcountries quietly renewed the 2003 ceasefire agreement through back-channelcontacts, and while diplomatic efforts to resume composite dialogue remainfrozen. By framing any future Indian response as a lesson in “responsiblebehaviour”, the army chief has effectively placed the onus of peaceentirely on Pakistan while reserving India’s right to unilateral action.
Pakistan’s civil and military leadership has so far maintained strategicsilence, but sources within the Foreign Office indicate that a formaldemarche has been prepared. Defence experts warn that such open threatsfrom the highest military office in India risk undermining the fragiledeterrence equilibrium along the LoC and could embolden hardliners on bothsides.
The statement also reflects growing civil-military convergence in New Delhion matters concerning Pakistan, with the army increasingly shaping thepublic narrative on national security. Whether General Dwivedi’s wordsrepresent calculated deterrence or an indication of operational planningremains a matter of intense speculation in strategic circles.
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Source:www.thehindu.com/news/national/army-chief-operation-sindoor-trailer/article68901234.ece”>https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/army-chief-operation-sindoor-trailer/article68901234.eceSource:www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/if-pakistan-gives-chance-will-teach-it-lesson-army-chief”>https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/if-pakistan-gives-chance-will-teach-it-lesson-army-chief
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