Chennai: Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday, August 9, took a jab at Pakistan’s self-declared victory following the May clashes that erupted after India launched Operation Sindoor.
Speaking at IIT Madras in Chennai, Dwivedi mocked Islamabad’s narrative-building, highlighting the promotion of Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir to a five-star general and field marshal despite clear military setbacks.
‘Must Have Won… That’s Why He’s Become Field Marshal’
Taking aim at Pakistan’s post-conflict rhetoric, Dwivedi said, “If you ask a Pakistani whether you lost or won, he’d say, ‘My chief has become a field marshal. We must have won, that’s why he’s become a field marshal.’” The comment drew laughter from the audience but underscored the deep contrast between battlefield realities and political spin.
Dwivedi also used the occasion to commend the Indian government for granting the armed forces full operational autonomy during the four-day campaign. Referring to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, he said, “On the 23rd, the next day itself, we all sat down… For the first time, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, ‘Enough is enough.’” He stressed that the clarity and confidence from the political leadership had boosted the morale of commanders in the field.
‘Political Will’ Credited for Operation’s Success
Echoing this sentiment, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, speaking at a separate event in Bengaluru, described political will as a decisive factor in the operation’s success. “There was very clear political will and very clear directions given to us. No restrictions were put on us… The forces decided what the rules of engagement would be. We had full freedom to plan and execute,” he said.
Launched on May 7, Operation Sindoor targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, killing over 100 militants linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling, drone strikes, and air defence action, to which India responded by crippling key radar systems, communication nodes, and airfields across 11 bases, including the Nur Khan air base.
