New DeIhi – Jun 03, 2025: Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan recently spoke out on the Indian Armed Forces’ execution of Operation Sindoor, calling it a powerful response to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Addressing a gathering in Pune, the CDS emphasized that professional militaries do not get bogged down by losses. Instead, he said, they remain focused on strategy, outcomes, and the bigger picture. “When asked about our losses, I said they are not important. What truly matters is how we act and the results we deliver,” he remarked.
Operation Sindoor was launched in response to a series of terror attacks traced back to Pakistan-based groups. The Indian forces executed a swift and targeted strike deep inside enemy territory, eliminating nine terror camps. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to strike Indian military and civilian infrastructure, but India responded with calibrated precision, destroying several Pakistani air bases. According to Gen Chauhan, what Pakistan had expected to be a drawn-out confrontation was wrapped up in just eight hours. “They thought they’d push us to the edge in 48 hours. Instead, they were on the phone asking for talks before the day was over,” he said.
The CDS made it clear that the intent behind the operation was not just retaliation, but a message — one that asserts India’s refusal to be held hostage by terrorism or nuclear threats. He stated firmly that the days of passive tolerance are over. “India will no longer live under the shadow of terror or nuclear blackmail. This state-sponsored terrorism must stop,” he said.
Chauhan also shed light on the shift in India’s counter-terrorism approach. The current strategy links acts of terrorism to broader national interests — including vital resources like water — thereby widening the cost of provocation for the enemy. “We’ve drawn a new line in our military posture. If Pakistan continues with its strategy to bleed India by a thousand cuts, they must also be prepared to pay a much heavier price,” he warned.
He recalled how Pakistan’s hostility is not new. From the rhetoric of former leaders like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who once declared a “thousand-year war” against India, to recent provocative statements by Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, Chauhan highlighted how these consistent threats are tied to real-world attacks like the recent one in Pahalgam. “This was no coincidence. Munir was spewing venom just days before the terror incident. That attack was the starting point of this particular war,” he noted.
On May 7, Operation Sindoor was initiated in the early hours, marking a significant escalation in India’s counter-terror operations. What followed was a decisive and time-bound military engagement. By May 10, both sides had agreed to a ceasefire. But the message had been sent — India’s threshold for tolerance has changed, and its response to future provocations will be immediate and overwhelming.
Through his statements, Gen Chauhan not only defended the armed forces’ actions but also reinforced the idea that India’s military doctrine is evolving. Precision, speed, and strategic messaging are now central to operations like Sindoor. And for the Indian Armed Forces, setbacks on the battlefield are not defeats — they’re simply part of the larger mission.
