Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi has revealed that the Indian armed forces were granted a “free hand” to plan and execute retaliatory strikes following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Speaking on August 4, he said the directive came during a high-level meeting on April 23, when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declared “enough is enough,” marking a decisive political stance.
“All three service chiefs were clear that action was needed. The political clarity and confidence given by the government was unprecedented, allowing commanders on the ground to act with full autonomy,” General Dwivedi stated.
Operation Sindoor, aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, was planned over the next few days. By April 25, military leaders had visited Northern Command, finalised plans, and identified seven of nine primary targets. “These were conceptualised, planned, and executed successfully, eliminating a large number of terrorists,” the Army chief said.
He noted that the first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter took place on April 29. The operation, launched on May 7, resulted in the deaths of over 100 terrorists.
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh confirmed on Saturday that during the operation, the Indian Air Force shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one airborne early warning and control aircraft—described as one of the largest recorded surface-to-air kills.
General Dwivedi said Operation Sindoor became a rallying point for the nation. “It connected the whole country and answered the question people were asking—why stop?” he remarked.
