India will not show restraint next time: Army chief warns Pakistan

In a stern warning to Pakistan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Friday said the neighbouring country must stop sponsoring terrorism on its soil if it wants to retain its place on the world map.

The Chief of Army Staff also stated that the restraint shown by New Delhi during Operation Sindoor would not be repeated in any future military conflict, urging Indian soldiers to remain vigilant and ready for action.

“India, as a country, is fully prepared this time. And this time, it will not show the restraint that it showed during Operation Sindoor 1.0. This time we will take a step forward and act in a manner that will make Pakistan think whether it wants to remain on the world map or not,” Gen. Dwivedi said during an address to soldiers at Anupgarh in Rajasthan’s Sriganganagar district.

He emphasised that Pakistan would have to halt state-sponsored terrorism to maintain its international standing. “Keep yourselves fully prepared now; if God wills, the opportunity will come soon,” he told the troops.

Gen. Dwivedi highlighted that India had presented evidence of terrorist hideouts in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, asserting that had India not acted, Pakistan would have concealed them. He recalled that the global community supported India’s strikes following the April 22 Pahalgam attack. The operation targeted nine locations inside Pakistan, with seven hit by the Army and two by the Air Force.

“We only aimed to strike terrorist bases. We have no complaints against ordinary Pakistani citizens, so long as their country does not sponsor terrorists. Because terrorists were being sponsored, those targets were hit,” he added.

Addressing concerns about civilians living near the border, he said they are considered as part of the nation’s defence, standing shoulder to shoulder with soldiers in the coming struggle. Gen. Dwivedi cited historical examples from the 1965 and 1971 wars, thanking the border population for their support and noting that their zeal boosts soldiers’ morale.