In a scathing warning to Pakistan, Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Friday cautioned that India’s western neighbour must end state-sponsored terrorism or risk jeopardising its historical and geographical existence.

Speaking at an event in Rajasthan, General Dwivedi said India would not hesitate to unleash greater force than that seen during Operation Sindoor 1.0, if provoked again.

If Pakistan wants to maintain a place in world history and geography, it must stop state-sponsored terrorism. We will not show any restraint this time as we did during Operation Sindoor 1.0 and will go a step ahead if provoked again," he warned.

He further said Pakistan could be compelled to “rethink” its very survival if India were to hit back harder. General Dwivedi also instructed troops to remain on standby, hinting at possible future military action.

Please be fully prepared. God willing, you will get another opportunity very soon. All the best. Jai Hind," he told soldiers.

Operation Sindoor and aftermath

On 7 May, the Indian armed forces launched precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, destroying nine terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and inside Pakistan’s mainland. The strikes killed over 100 militants in retaliation for the 22 April Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed 26 civilian lives.

Following India’s offensive, Pakistan retaliated with drone and missile strikes over the next two to three days, targeting Indian military and civilian locations. However, Indian forces successfully intercepted the attacks and prevented damage to strategic and civilian installations.

The hostilities ended on 10 May after Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) sought a ceasefire, which India accepted. While former US President Donald Trump later claimed to have brokered peace, New Delhi has consistently rejected assertions of third-party mediation.

Air Force disclosure

General Dwivedi’s remarks came hours after Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh disclosed that 8–10 Pakistani fighter jets, including US-made F-16s and Chinese JF-17s, were destroyed during the May hostilities.

Speaking at the 93rd Air Force Day celebrations, the IAF chief hailed the 300 km deep strike inside Pakistani territory as the force’s “longest kill” to date, describing it as the “highlight of the year” for the air force.

He also dismissed Islamabad’s claims that Indian jets were destroyed as “manohar kahaniyan (fascinating tales).”

The IAF chief’s revelation comes in the wake of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent claim at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that seven Indian fighter aircraft had been shot down.

Political backdrop

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a statement following the ceasefire, had already warned that Operation Sindoor was still underway and that any future provocation from Pakistan would invite an even stronger Indian response.