Operation Sindoor ongoing, any misadventure will be dealt with firmly: Army Chief

Operation Sindoor remains ongoing, and any misadventure by the adversary will be dealt with effectively, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said on Tuesday (January 13, 2026), issuing a firm warning to Pakistan.

The Army Chief said that the anti-terrorism operation had sent a strong deterrent message by successfully destroying seven of the nine identified targets and puncturing the long-standing nuclear rhetoric of the adversary.

Security assessment

Providing an update on the security situation, the Army Chief said that since May 10, the situation along the Western front and in Jammu and Kashmir has been sensitive but firmly under control. In 2025, security forces eliminated 31 terrorists, nearly 65% of whom were of Pakistani origin. The figures include the three perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack, who were neutralised during the Operation Mahadev.

General Dwivedi noted a sharp improvement in the internal security environment, stating that the number of active local terrorists has now fallen to a single digit, while fresh recruitment has become almost non-existent, with only two cases reported in 2025.

Highlighting broader indicators of normalcy, he said Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed robust development activities, a strong revival of tourism and a peaceful conduct of the Sri Amarnath Yatra. More than four lakh pilgrims participated in the yatra, surpassing the five-year average, reinforcing the gradual shift from “terrorism to tourism” in the region.

Model military response

Describing Operation Sindoor as a model military response, the Army Chief said it was “the best example of tri-service synergy under a clear-cut political directive and full freedom to act or respond.”

On recent drone sightings along the border, General Dwivedi said the Indian Army had observed a limited number of small drones operating at low altitudes with lights on. “Around six drones were seen on January 10, and two to three were observed on January 11 and 12. These appear to be “defensive drones”, likely looking for gaps to send in terrorists,” he said.

He added that the drones appeared to have received a “negative response,” as no vulnerabilities were found. “There is no gap through which terrorists can be sent,” he asserted, while confirming that the issue was raised during the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) talks held on Tuesday (January 13, 2026). “We conveyed clearly that this is unacceptable and must be stopped,” General Dwivedi said.