Pune: The armed forces are fully prepared for ‘Operation Sindoor 2.0’ if the need arises, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi said on Saturday, asserting that all three services are strengthening synergy for modern multi-domain warfare spanning land, air, sea, space, cyber and cognitive domains.
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the passing-out parade of the 150th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla, General Dwivedi said that while there is currently a temporary cessation of hostilities, the armed forces are actively preparing for any future phase if required.
India had launched Operation Sindoor in May 2025 as a military response aimed at destroying terror infrastructure in Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in April that killed 26 people.
“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.
The Army Chief said future warfare would no longer be limited to land, sea and air, but would increasingly involve emerging domains such as space, cyber and cognitive warfare.
He noted that modern battlefields have become highly transparent, requiring constant caution in troop deployment and protection.
“What we have seen over a period of time is 24/7. 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, in terms of our employment, and the protection which is required to protect our troops as well as the civilians in the border areas,” he said.
Referring to lessons from Operation Sindoor, General Dwivedi stressed the importance of information warfare and national cohesion.
“Victory is always in the mind. It’s not on the ground. Therefore, information warfare is only successful if the whole of the nation gets together and trusts the people who are giving the information,” he said.
“If that happens, I can assure you that the nation which trusts each other and all these stakeholders will always win the war,” he added.
He said Operation Sindoor had demonstrated India’s resolve and the armed forces’ capability to deliver calibrated, precise and purposeful responses, highlighting integrated planning, real-time intelligence, precision targeting, strong air defence, secure communications and inter-service synergy.
The Army Chief said the forces are undergoing major transformation under the ‘Decade of Transformation’ initiative to become future-ready.
“We are transforming ourselves into a future-ready force under the ‘Decade of Transformation’, wherein the role of the younger generation would be pivotal,” he said.
He also referred to the creation of industry drone battalions, Divyastra batteries, Shaktiman regiments and Bhairav battalions as part of technology-driven modernisation.
General Dwivedi said the next major step is developing a networked and data-centric force where data becomes a strategic asset enabling faster and smarter decision-making.
Highlighting his focus on drone warfare, he said every soldier should have access to drone capabilities under the concept of “Eagle on the Arm”.
“This means every soldier should have an ‘eagle’ in their hand... Every soldier should have the capability to fly a drone. Training for this is ongoing in academies, and simulators are available,” he said.
He further said the long-discussed military theatreisation process is progressing in the right direction, with deliberations completed and a report submitted to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for review.
He said service chiefs would continue to be responsible for “raise, train and sustain,” while theatre commanders would handle operational orchestration of forces.
“We are hopeful that the next setup which is coming under the new CDS should be able to take the journey forward and in the next two to three years, we should be able to see it happening on the ground,” he said.
Earlier, reviewing the NDA passing-out parade, General Dwivedi said Operation Sindoor had set a benchmark for expressing national will 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, defining how Bharat responds to provocation. That standard now belongs to you to uphold,” he added.
Calling it a “poignant and deeply personal moment”, the Army Chief also recalled passing out from the same quarterdeck over 42 years ago, saying: “What you begin here endures forever.”
With PTI inputs