India Was ‘Just Minutes Away from Strike’ Against Pakistan During Op Sindoor: Navy Chief

India was just minutes away from launching a sea-based strike against Pakistan during Operation Sindoor when Islamabad requested a halt to “kinetic actions”, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a naval investiture ceremony in Mumbai , Admiral Tripathi highlighted the preparedness of the Indian Navy during the operation carried out last year following the Pahalgam terror attack . The ceremony also saw two senior naval officers being honoured with the Yudh Seva Medal for their distinguished service during the operation.

“It is now not a hidden fact that we were just minutes away from striking Pakistan from the sea when they requested stoppage of kinetic actions,” the Navy Chief said while referring to the maritime role during the mission.

Operation Sindoor was launched in the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir , which triggered a strong response from India’s security forces. While details of the operation have largely remained confidential, Admiral Tripathi’s remarks offered a rare glimpse into how close the situation had come to a possible naval strike.

The Navy Chief also spoke about the rising tensions in West Asia and their impact on global maritime movement. Referring to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran , he said the situation has significantly disrupted shipping in the region.

According to him, more than 20 merchant vessels have been attacked since the conflict escalated. As a result, nearly 1,900 ships remain stranded amid the hostilities.

He further noted that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz , one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes, has dropped sharply. Daily movement has fallen to six to seven vessel transits , compared to a normal average of about 130 transits per day before the conflict.

Admiral Tripathi said the developments underline the growing challenges to global maritime security and highlight the importance of maintaining strong naval readiness in a rapidly evolving security environment.