India’s Western Army Commander has issued a stark warning to Pakistan, stating that any future conflict will not be confined to striking terror camps but could extend directly to Pakistani territory — and that the Indian military’s response would be more forceful than what was demonstrated during Operation Sindoor.
Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar made the remarks at an Investiture Ceremony II held in Pathankot, Punjab. “The response will be stronger than what we have done in Operation Sindoor,” he said, outlining the consequences should a similar situation arise in the future.
Recounting the events of Operation Sindoor, Lt Gen Katiyar said India “attacked all their terrorist bases” in Pakistan, following which Pakistan chose to retaliate. India then responded by destroying Pakistani military and air bases. He noted that the intensity of India’s counter-response left Pakistan with no choice but to seek a ceasefire “not just directly from us, but also from other countries,” he said. “They cannot fight us,” he added.
Addressing the ongoing infiltration threat in Jammu and Kashmir, the Western Army Commander said that terrorists attempting to cross into Indian territory have the backing of the Pakistani establishment. “The trained terrorists who are infiltrating it is possible that Pakistan also has a hand in training these terrorists,” Katiyar said. He then issued a direct warning: “This time war will not be limited to terror camps but to their land,” signalling the possibility of ground action if circumstances demand it.
The backdrop to these remarks is the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people, the majority of them tourists. The attack prompted India to launch Operation Sindoor, under which nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were destroyed.
Following the strikes, Pakistan reacted sharply, targeting Indian civilian areas and military installations. However, Indian defence forces successfully neutralised most of those attacks.
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