General Upendra Dwivedi, the Indian Army Chief, addressed Operation Sindoor. He stated that a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took place on April 23rd following the April 22nd Pahalgam attack. The Army Chief revealed that the Defence Minister’s initial response was, “Enough is enough.” He added that the Defence Minister gave full autonomy to the army chiefs, stating that they should decide what actions to take.
Following this, the Army Chief explained, Operation Sindoor was planned and executed successfully with confidence. This operation resulted in the destruction of 9 terrorist organizations based in Pakistan. The Army Chief highlighted that the operation’s name itself inspired the entire nation.
Defense Minister Grants Full Autonomy to Armed Forces
The Army Chief described how the incident on April 22nd in Pahalgam shook the entire nation. He recounted that the next day, on April 23rd, they all convened. It was then that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declared, “Enough is enough.” The three service chiefs were united in their resolve to take action. The Army Chief emphasized that the Defence Minister gave the army chiefs complete freedom, telling them to determine the course of action. He remarked that this level of confidence, political direction, and clarity was unprecedented. This bolstered the morale, which in turn helped the commanders-in-chief on the ground utilize their skills effectively.
Meeting with the Prime Minister
The Army Chief mentioned that on April 25th, they visited the Northern Command, where they planned the operation and achieved their objectives by destroying 9 terrorist hideouts and eliminating several terrorists inside Pakistan. The Army Chief noted that they first met the Prime Minister on April 29th. He stressed the significance of how a simple name, Operation Sindoor, united the entire country. The name resonated with the nation, leading to widespread questions of why the operation had been stopped.
Air Force Chief Also Credits Political Will
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, the Air Force Chief, had previously credited the central government’s political will for the success of Operation Sindoor. Speaking at a program at the HAL Management Academy in Bengaluru, he stated that the primary reason for the success was clear political will. He mentioned that they had received very clear instructions and were not subject to external restrictions. He added that they had determined the boundaries themselves. The Air Chief Marshal said that they had complete freedom in the planning and execution of this operation.
The article also mentioned the terrorist attacks on April 22nd in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, originating from Pakistan, which resulted in 26 fatalities. The terrorists targeted tourists and inquired about their religion before the attacks. Subsequently, the Indian Army launched Operation Sindoor to retaliate, destroying 9 terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and issuing a warning against any further such actions from Pakistan.