Says ‘Strikes avoided civilians, were focused solely on destroying Pak-based terror hideouts’
New Delji: Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday said that India, during Operation Sindoor, targeted only terrorist bases in Pakistan and avoided civilian or military installations. He said the operation was conducted with precision, guided by the principles that define India’s military conduct.
Talking to reporters after attending an event at his alma mater, Rewa Sainik School, during the All India Sainik Schools National Games 2025.
General Dwivedi said “Operation Sindoor was successful because we fought with the combined strength of our principles and technology. We made it a point that no innocent civilians in Pakistan suffered. We only targeted terrorists and their bosses”. He urged citizens to contribute to nation-building and help achieve the goal of a developed India by 2047.
He said the armed forces ensured that no action was carried out during prayer hours. “We attacked only places that had the presence of terrorists. We did not target innocent civilians or defence installations. We achieved our goal in Operation Sindoor and sent a message to Pakistan that we are not like them,” he added.
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed several civilians.
The operation targeted terrorist hideouts located in territories under Pakistan’s control. The airstrikes and counter-attacks continued for four days before both sides agreed to halt military actions on May 10.
General Dwivedi said Operation Sindoor remains active and will continue until the Army considers its objectives fully met.
At the same event, Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla presented mementoes of the white lion symbol of the Vindhya region to General Dwivedi and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi. In return, the Army Chief presented a model of the BrahMos missile, and Admiral Tripathi presented a model of a naval ship to Shukla.
Students from 36 Sainik Schools across the country participated in the event, where both service chiefs distributed awards to the winners.
General Dwivedi said India’s response under Operation Sindoor reflected the country’s capability to combine technology with restraint, ensuring that the strikes remained confined to terrorist infrastructure and avoided civilian harm.
