Indian army chief threatens to ‘wipe Pakistan off Map’
News Desk :
India’s Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi has issued a sharp warning to Pakistan, accusing the country of fuelling terrorism and threatening its existence on the map unless it ends state-backed militancy.
Speaking at an Army post in Rajasthan’s Anupgarh on Friday, Gen Dwivedi said Indian forces would not show the patience exercised earlier and suggested that a second version of Operation Sindoor could soon follow if Islamabad refuses to stop spreading “terrorism”.
“This time we will not maintain the restraint that we had in Operation Sindoor 1.0. This time we will do something that will make Pakistan think whether it wants to retain its place in geography or not,” he was quoted as saying by the NDTV. The outlet reported that the Army chief also told soldiers to remain prepared, saying: “If God wills, you will get an opportunity soon.”
His warning came after Indian Air Force chief Amar Preet Singh claimed earlier on Friday that Indian forces had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets, including F-16s and JF-17s, during intense hostilities around five months ago, reports bdnews24.com
The confrontation stems from the Apr 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, that left 26 tourists dead. It was the deadliest assault on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
New Delhi said four suspects were linked to the Pahalgam attack, two of whom were Pakistani nationals. Amid the tensions, on May 7 Indian fighter jets struck targets inside Pakistan, which New Delhi described as “terrorist infrastructure”.
The exchange escalated into days of cross-border strikes with jets, missiles, drones and artillery until a ceasefire took effect on May 10, leaving multiple casualties. In July, India announced that three militants involved in the Pahalgam attack had been killed and insisted it had “detailed proof” of their Pakistani identity.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry dismissed the claim as “fabricated”.
The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought three wars, two over Kashmir, with disputes spilling over into trade, travel and even sports. Following the latest clashes, India suspended a key water-sharing treaty, which Pakistan described as an “act of war”.
