Op Sindoor was just an 88-hr trailer: Army chief

NEW DELHI: Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May was just an “88-hour trailer” without the film actually beginning, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi said Monday, warning that the Indian armed forces were fully ready to “teach” the western adversary “how to behave responsibly” if the need arose in future.General Dwivedi also said relations between India and China have improved a lot since Oct last year after dialogue among the leaders of the two nations to usher in “normalcy”, with military commanders on the ground also regularly meeting to resolve local issues.Addressing a curtain raiser event of the Chanakya Defence Dialogue, the Army chief delivered a stern message to Pakistan by stressing that as per the “new normal” India will continue to consider terrorists and their supporters alike.”Blood and water cannot flow together. Talks and terror cannot go together. India focuses on progress and prosperity. If someone creates obstacles in our path, then we will have to take some action against them,” he added.Alluding to Pakistan’s nuclear sabre-rattling, General Dwivedi said “India is in a position today where it is not scared of any blackmailing”. India has the political will and military capabilities, which are increasing by the day, for the requisite deterrence, he said. “Deterrence works only when the adversary believes you will act the way you warn them…the other side takes your resolve seriously. Today, our deterrence is working,” he said. On lessons learnt from Op Sindoor, General Dwivedi stressed the importance of integration among the Army, IAF, Navy and other forces, the need for timely decision-making at every level of the command chain, and ensuring proper ammunition and other supplies for even long-drawn out battles.He said the situation in J&K has improved significantly after the scrapping of Article 370 in Aug 2019. “After this, political clarity has come. There has been a huge decline in terrorism…,” he said, adding that of the 31 militants eliminated this year, over 60% were of Pakistani-origin.