Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday described Operation Sindoor as a landmark military campaign that marked a paradigm shift in modern warfare, likening it to a high-stakes chess match in the “greyzone” where India ultimately delivered a “decisive checkmate” to Pakistan.

Speaking at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, the Army chief said the operation showcased India’s growing strategic prowess, backed by firm political resolve and operational freedom.

A War of Wits, Not Just Weapons

“In Operation Sindoor, we played chess… We did not know what the enemy’s next move was going to be, and what we were going to do. This is called greyzone. Greyzone means that we are not going for conventional operations. What we are doing is just short of a conventional operation… We were making the chess moves, and he (enemy) was also making the chess moves,” the Army chief remarked.

Describing the battlefield dynamic, he explained, “At times, we went in for the kill, even at the risk of our own losses. But that’s what life and leadership are about.” He emphasized that the mission wasn’t traditional warfare but a series of strategic moves designed to outsmart the adversary.

Pakistan’s Propaganda: A ‘Victory in the Mind’

Taking aim at Pakistan’s post-conflict narrative, the Army Chief dismissed Islamabad’s claims of victory as mere narrative manipulation. He pointed to the recent elevation of Pakistan’s Army Chief, Gen Asim Munir, to the rank of five-star Field Marshal as an attempt to project internal morale as battlefield success.

Speaking at an event at the IIT Madras, he added, “Somewhere we were giving them the checkmate and somewhere we were going in for the kill at the risk of losing our own but that’s life is all about”.

“If you ask a Pakistani whether they lost or won, they’ll say, ‘Our chief is now a Field Marshal, we must have won,’” Dwivedi remarked, drawing attention to the psychological and symbolic tools used to shape public perception.

Precision and Political Backing

Launched on May 7, Operation Sindoor was India’s direct response to the brutal April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. According to military officials, the campaign targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), eliminating over 100 militants affiliated with groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

“Narrative management system is something which we realise in a big way because victory is in mind. It’s always in mind. If you ask a Pakistani whether you lost or won, he’d say, ‘Army chief has become Field Marshal. We must have won only, that’s why he has a become a Field Marshal’,” the Army Chief said.

The operation involved precision air and missile strikes against nine strategic sites, including radar systems, communication hubs, and key air bases such as the Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi.

“Free Hand” from the Top: Strategic Autonomy

General Dwivedi credited the mission’s success to the clear political resolve at the highest levels. Recalling a high-level meeting held on April 23, he said, “For the first time, the Defence Minister (Rajnath Singh) said, ‘Enough is enough.’ All three service chiefs were united in the need for action. We were given a free hand, complete freedom to decide and execute.”

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, echoed this view at a separate event, stating, “There were no external constraints. The only limits were self-imposed. We controlled the escalation and set our own rules of engagement.”

“On (April) 23rd, we all sat down. This is the first time that RM (Defence Minister Rajnath Singh) said, ‘enough is enough’. All three chiefs were very clear that something had to be done. The free hand was given, ‘you decide what is to be done.’ That is the kind of confidence, political direction and political clarity we saw for the first time,” Dwivedi said at the event.

Pakistan’s Retaliation: Ineffective and Costly

Following India’s precision strikes, Pakistan attempted to retaliate with drone and missile attacks. However, India’s robust air defence systems reportedly neutralized most threats. Indian counterstrikes targeted and damaged at least 11 Pakistani military installations.

“In 80 to 90 hours of war, we damaged their air defence to such an extent that they knew continuing the conflict would lead to greater loss,” said Air Chief Marshal Singh, revealing that five Pakistani fighter jets were shot down during the exchanges.

“It is important that how a small name Op Sindoor connects the whole nation… That is something which galvanised the whole nation… That is the reason the whole nation was saying why have you stopped? That question was being asked and it has been amply answered,” he added.

Strategic Messaging and National Unity

General Dwivedi also underscored the role of narrative and information warfare in modern conflict. “Victory is in the mind,” he said, adding that India has learned to leverage social media and strategic messaging effectively.

“The slogan ‘Justice Done: Op Sindoor’ hit global headlines. It received among the highest engagement rates worldwide,” he said. He noted how even the operation’s name, Sindoor had a unifying effect across the nation. “It galvanised people. That’s why many were asking, ‘Why did you stop?’ That question was answered loud and clear.”

MEA, Analysts Back Army’s Claim of Victory

The Ministry of External Affairs also dismissed Pakistan’s narrative, calling it a repeated pattern. “Claiming victory is a habit for them; they did it in 1971, 1975, and Kargil too,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in May, days after a ceasefire was agreed upon.

Defence analysts have widely acknowledged the campaign as a significant military and psychological win for India, restoring deterrence against cross-border terrorism and showcasing India’s ability to conduct high-precision, coordinated strikes with strategic clarity.

A New Chapter in Indian Military Doctrine

Operation Sindoor has opened a new chapter in India’s approach to security and retaliation. No longer restricted by outdated protocols or defensive postures, the Indian Armed Forces, empowered by political clarity and public support, have sent a strong message.

As General Dwivedi summed up, “This was not just an operation. It was a statement, and that statement was heard loud and clear.”