More than 100 Pakistani soldiers were killed during India’s targeted operations along the Line of Control (LoC) following the Pahalgam terror attack, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai stated on Tuesday. Speaking at the United Nations Troop Contributing Countries (UNTCC) conclave at the Manekshaw Centre, Delhi, he described the operations as a swift, calibrated, and non-escalatory response that showcased India’s evolving military doctrine combining precision strikes with diplomatic and economic leverage.
Lt Gen Ghai highlighted that Pakistan’s own admissions — including the release of posthumous gallantry medals on August 14 — indicate the scale of casualties exceeding 100 personnel. “We hit nine targets across Pakistan. This was a fusion of military precision, diplomatic agility, informational superiority, and economic leverage,” he said, noting that India had temporarily placed the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 into abeyance as part of a broader coercive strategy.
Addressing the Army chiefs of 30 countries, the DGMO emphasized that Indian forces were fully prepared for potential Pakistani retaliation. “It’s naive to think the Indian Army would conduct such operations without preparing for contingencies. We had wargamed four to five steps ahead,” he stated, explaining that secondary targets along the LoC were struck in anticipation of cross-border firing.
The operations forced Pakistan to seek a cessation of hostilities within 88 hours, underscoring the decisive and effective nature of India’s punitive measures. Lt. Gen. Ghai also credited the Indian Navy for being “well poised in the Arabian Sea,” ready to expand the conflict if required.
On the elimination of terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack, he confirmed that the perpetrators were tracked down and neutralized within 96 days, describing their capture and end as “clinical” and emphasizing that justice had been served.
