India has warned Pakistan that it risks losing its place on the world map if it continues to sponsor terrorism, as the Indian Army and Air Force outlined the extent of their strikes during ‘Operation Sindoor.’ The military operations, carried out to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, have demonstrated India’s readiness to respond decisively.
Addressing a press conference ahead of the Air Force Day parade in Anupgarh, Jaipur, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said, “India, as a country, is fully prepared this time. And this time, it will not show the restraint that it exhibited 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.”
General Dwivedi urged soldiers to stay alert and prepared, stating, “Keep yourselves fully prepared now, if god wants, the opportunity will come soon.” He added that ‘Operation Sindoor’ exposed terrorist hideouts deep inside Pakistan and provided evidence to the world that Pakistan had been sponsoring terrorist activities. “Entire world stood with India when we launched Operation Sindoor to avenge April 22 Pahalgam terror,” he said.
According to the Army Chief, the Indian military struck nine targets inside Pakistan, seven by the Army and two by the Air Force. “We had identified the targets because we only wanted to harm the terrorists. We had aimed to strike their bases. We have no complaints against ordinary Pakistani citizens, so long as their country does not sponsor terrorists. Because terrorists were being sponsored, those terrorist targets were hit,” he explained.
On the role of the border population, General Dwivedi said, “We consider the border population not as ordinary civilians but as soldiers. That means they stand shoulder to shoulder with us in the battle. This is crucial because the coming struggle is the nation’s struggle, not just the Army’s.” He recalled that during the 1965 and 1971 wars, ordinary citizens stood with soldiers and said he hoped for similar support in future challenges.
Earlier, the Army Chief visited forward areas, including Bikaner Military Station, to review operational readiness. According to an Army statement, he interacted with senior leadership, veterans, civil dignitaries, and troops, emphasizing modernization, combat preparedness, technological integration, and operational excellence. The COAS felicitated veterans for their contributions and underlined the importance of integrating UAS and counter-UAS technologies across the operational spectrum.
“The COAS further underscored that the current complex security environment demands seamless synergy between the Armed Forces, government agencies, industry, academia and society, adopting a Whole-of-Nation approach to defence preparedness,” the statement said.
While the Army focused on strategic ground operations, the Air Force revealed the scale of its own successes. Terming Pakistan’s claims of downing Indian jets as “manohar kahaniyan (fascinating tales),” Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said at least a dozen Pakistani military aircraft, including 4–5 F-16 jets, were destroyed or damaged in the strikes.
“Indian strikes hit radars at least four places, command and control centres at two places, runways of course damaged at two places, then three of their hangars in three different stations were damaged,” Singh said. He also confirmed the destruction of one SAM system and a long-range strike exceeding 300 km targeting either an AEW&C or a SIGINT aircraft.
Mocking Islamabad’s claims, the Air Chief remarked, “If they think they downed our 15 jets, I hope they are convinced about it and they will cater for 15 less aircraft in my inventory when they come to fight again.” Singh emphasized that India entered the conflict with clear objectives and terminated hostilities quickly, in contrast to ongoing prolonged wars elsewhere.
“Wars will not be like before. We need to be prepared for current and future challenges with an integrated approach involving all services and agencies,” he said, highlighting the need for self-reliance. The IAF has placed orders for LCA Mk1A aircraft, while development continues on the LCA Mk2 and Indian Multi-Role Helicopter projects. Several radars and systems are also being developed domestically.
The Air Chief also spoke about international joint exercises with the UAE, Egypt, France, and Singapore, which have strengthened operational capabilities and showcased India’s readiness for emerging security threats.
In anticipation of the 93rd Air Force Day on October 8 at Hindon Air Base, Singh shared that a special flypast will feature a Mi-17 helicopter carrying the Operation Sindoor flag, with static displays of Rafale and Su-30 MKI fighters, transport aircraft, the Akash missile system, radars, and other equipment. “We’re showcasing 18 innovations that reflect the IAF’s drive for self-reliance and solutions-focused thinking. We’ve also played a key role in humanitarian operations across multiple Indian states this year,” he added.
Together, the statements from the Army and Air Force underscore India’s resolve to respond decisively against terrorism and highlight the evolving nature of modern warfare, integrating technology, coordination, and national readiness at every level. (With inputs from KNO)