30 May,2026 02:59 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi. Pic/ X
The armed forces are fully prepared for âOperation Sindoor 2.0' if the need arises, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi said on Saturday, asserting that all three services are enhancing synergy for modern multi-domain warfare that extends beyond land, air and sea.
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the passing-out parade of the 150th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, General Dwivedi noted that while a temporary cessation of hostilities currently exists, all three services are preparing intensely for the next phase should it occur, reported PTI.
India launched Operation Sindoor, a military operation to destroy terror infrastructure in Pakistan in May 2025, in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives in April.
"As far as Operation Sindoor is concerned, firstly, it is still continuing. There is a temporary cessation of hostilities. So the Indian Army and all the three services are preparing well for Operation Sindoor 2.0 if it takes place," he said.
General Dwivedi said future warfare would not be limited to land, maritime and air domains alone, but would increasingly be influenced by emerging domains such as space, cyber and cognitive warfare.
Modern battlefields have become highly transparent, he said, adding that military planners must remain cautious about deployments and force protection measures.
"What we have seen over a period of time is 24/7 surveillance. The battlefield is so transparent that every movement is known to the other side. Therefore, we have to be very cautious in terms of our deployment, employment and the protection required for our troops as well as civilians in border areas," he said, reported PTI.
Referring to lessons from Operation Sindoor, General Dwivedi said public trust and national cohesion would remain decisive factors in future conflicts.
"Victory is always in the mind. It's not on the ground. Therefore, information warfare is only successful if the whole nation comes together and trusts the people who are giving the information," he said.
"If that happens, I can assure you that the nation whose people trust each other and all stakeholders will always win the war," the Army Chief added.
The Army Chief said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India's resolve and the armed forces' ability to deliver a calibrated, precise and purposeful response.
"This operation underlined the importance of integrated planning, real-time intelligence, precision targeting, strong air defence, secure communications and synergy across domains," he said, reported PTI.
General Dwivedi added that the Indian Army is actively transforming into a future-ready force under the âDecade of Transformation', with younger officers and soldiers expected to play a pivotal role.
He noted that the raising of drone battalions, Divyastra batteries, Shaktiman regiments and Bhairav battalions, along with other technology-enabled structures, is part of this transformation.
Speaking about the growing role of drones and indigenous weapon systems, General Dwivedi said he has consistently advocated the concept of "Eagle on the Arm".
"This means every soldier should have an âeagle' in their hand. Every soldier should have the capability to fly a drone. You have seen that training for this is ongoing in our academies and other places, and simulators are also being used," he said.
The Army Chief further said the long-awaited military theatre command process is on the "right track", with deliberations within the Chiefs of Staff Committee completed and a report submitted to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for review.
"All major concerns and interests of the three services have been accommodated in the proposed structure," he said, the news agency reported.
General Dwivedi added that service chiefs would continue to be responsible for "raise, train and sustain", while theatre commanders would oversee operational orchestration of forces.
"We are hopeful that under the new CDS setup, the journey will move forward and in the next two to three years we should be able to see it implemented on the ground," he said, PTI reported.
Earlier in the day, General Dwivedi reviewed the passing-out parade of the 150th course at NDA, Khadakwasla, where he said Operation Sindoor had set a benchmark for how India responds to provocation with "precision and resolve".
"From contested grey zones to high-velocity hybrid warfare, today's security environment demands that those who serve must think sharply as they act," he said.
"Operation Sindoor demonstrated that and set the benchmark when national will was expressed with precision and resolve. That standard now belongs to you to uphold," he told the cadets.
Calling the occasion "poignant and deeply personal", General Dwivedi recalled passing out from the same quarterdeck over 42 years ago.
"Today, as I stand before you at the far end of a life in uniform, preparing to doff mine as you prepare to don yours, I can tell you with certainty: what you begin here endures forever," he said.
(With PTI inputs)
