Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi declared on Tuesday that Operation Sindoor, launched in 2025 to neutralise terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, remains ongoing. Addressing reporters during his first press conference of 2026, he issued a firm warning to Islamabad that any future misadventure would be met with effective and decisive response.

The operation was initiated on May 7, 2025, following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, carried out by The Resistance Front, a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. Indian security forces targeted multiple terror camps across the border, eliminating over 100 terrorists. Pakistan responded with a large-scale missile and drone assault, which India intercepted, before retaliating against Pakistani airfields. A ceasefire came into effect on May 10.

General Dwivedi described Operation Sindoor as a prime example of seamless tri-service synergy, executed under clear political guidance with full operational freedom. He highlighted its precision and impact, noting that the 22-minute initiation phase on May 7 expanded into an 88-hour orchestrated campaign that dismantled terror networks, reset strategic calculations, and challenged long-standing nuclear intimidation tactics employed by the adversary.

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Since the ceasefire, the western front and Jammu and Kashmir situation has remained sensitive yet firmly under control, according to the Army Chief. In 2025, security forces eliminated 31 terrorists, with 65 per cent being of Pakistani origin, including the three Pahalgam attackers neutralised during Operation Mahadev. He added that active local terrorists in the region have now dwindled to single digits, with recruitment dropping to just two cases throughout the year.

General Dwivedi pointed to encouraging signs of progress in Jammu and Kashmir, including intensified development efforts, a strong revival of tourism, and a highly peaceful Shri Amarnath Yatra that attracted over four lakh pilgrims, surpassing the five-year average. He described the emerging shift from terrorism to tourism as a clear indicator of positive transformation and improved security environment in the Union Territory.

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