'Operation Sindoor' continues as india maintains preparedness after ceasefire with Pakistan

CHANDIGARH: While the ceasefire between India and Pakistan has held since May 10, Army Commander, Western Command, Lt Gen Manoj Katiyar said on Saturday that Operation Sindoor is not over.

Speaking to the media at the Western Command headquarters during an event marking the diamond jubilee of the 1965 war, he said the operation remains active as part of India’s preparedness to deter any further misadventures by Pakistan. "After the ceasefire on May 10, there was no incident on the ground. The operation was part of our preparedness for war, and it is continuing to check any misadventure by Pakistan," Lt Gen Katiyar told mediapersons.


"We hope that Pakistan does not indulge in any such act again, but we do not have full trust in it. There may be elements inside Pakistan that may perpetuate a terrorist attack, and in case of such an incident, we have no other option but to retaliate."

The western army commander said that the purpose of the Pahalgam attack was not only to disturb peace in Kashmir, but it also had a deeper motive to create unrest and ferment trouble in other parts of the country. Recalling the events of 1965, Gen Katiyar said India is marking the 60th anniversary of the 1965 war this year.

"In 2025 too, Pakistan committed misadventures by carrying out an attack in Pahalgam. Just as we foiled Pakistan’s intentions in 1965, we once again defeated their evil plans in 2025 through Operation Sindoor," he said.

He traced the 1965 conflict to Pakistan’s designs, which Indian forces successfully thwarted, first in the Kuchh area of Gujarat and later in Kargil the same year.

"Operation Gibraltar was launched in Kashmir in August 1965, when some 10,000 irregular fighters were infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir. They thought Jammu and Kashmir would rise in their support, but the plan failed. Most of the rajakars (irregular fighters) were either captured or killed, and some fled. The battlefield of Asal Uttar became, in a way, a graveyard for Pakistani tanks because of the bravery displayed by the Indian Army soldiers like Abdul Hamid," he said.

Gen Katiyar said that roughly 60 years after the 1965 war, Pakistan again struck in Pahalgam, and India responded firmly. "We gave a stern reply by destroying their terrorist hideouts and inflicting heavy damage on their airbases. We believe that Pakistan will learn some lessons after this punishment during Operation Sindoor," he said.

Reinforcing the theme of preparedness and deterrence, he added: "Our aim, in 1965 and today as well, is peace. But if Pakistan repeats such wrong actions, we are fully prepared." He said the importance of the 1965 war — fought after the 1962 conflict with China — in restoring and cementing public trust in the Indian Army.

"After the 1965 war, the people’s faith in the Indian Army became firmly established, and it remains strong to this day." Gen Katiyar stressed the need for younger generations to understand the bravery of the 1965 soldiers and the lessons learned from that conflict. "For us, 1965 holds great importance. We learned many lessons from that war — especially in defensive and offensive operations — which are now part of our military training curriculum."

He concluded saying that technology is important during war, but the man behind the machine matters more. "Pakistan had superior technology at that time in 1965, including tanks and aircraft, but we won because of the motivation, dedication, and gallantry of our soldiers," the Army commander said.

Other senior officers of western command, who were present on this occasion included, Lt Gen Mohit Wadhwa, chief of staff, Western Command, Major General Puneet Ahuja, MGGS (OPS) and Brigadier Abhishek Wasan, BSG (IW).