‘No change in Pakistan’s behaviour after Op Sindoor’: Army chief flags Munir’s promotion

There have not been many changes in Pakistan’s behaviour that were expected after Operation Sindoor, and the 27th Amendment has instead strengthened the Field Marshal Asim Munir of the Pakistan Army, Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi has said.

In an interview at the Firstpost IdeasPod at the Raisina Dialogue 2026, Dwivedi said he does not find “a lot of changes which were expected after Operation Sindoor”.

Dwivedi noted that the 27th Amendment did not just put all the three branches of the military under Munir along with the nuclear command but also made the Pakistani polity and bureaucracy subservient to him.

Dwivedi further said, “As far as India is concerned, India must remain alarmed, India must remain alert, and you see what they have already done along the Iran border and what they have already done with Afghanistan. Therefore, we cannot take it for granted. Therefore, we have to be extra cautious, careful, and always prepared to take on any eventuality with our western neighbour.”

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With the 27th Constitutional Amendment, Pakistan Army chief Munir essentially became the country’s czar, formalising the open secret that it is the Pakistan Army that runs the country and the civilian government works within the framework set by it.

As for Operation Sindoor’s execution, Dwivedi said that it was the first time India implemented all three components of deterrence: credibility, capability, and the will to wage war.

“This is the first time when we actually executed all that. That is the first lesson which I wish to give you: it was a new normal and we said this will now be a policy that in case there is a terror action, the policy will be to retaliate under our own terms and conditions,” said Dwivedi.

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India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack — Pakistan-based and -backed The Resistance Front (TRF), a cover name for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Under the operation, India struck terrorist facilities across Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK). When Pakistan responded with attacks on Indian civilian and military areas, India struck Pakistan’s military sites across the country, battering airbases, air defence sites, and other tactically and strategic important sites. The conflict ended on May 10 after Pakistan requested a ceasefire and India granted the request.

‘Pakistan is only pressing the button’: Dwivedi on two-front challenge

Outlining the two-front challenge that India faces from Pakistan and China, Dwivedi said that Pakistan was merely pressing the button.

During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan attacked India largely with Chinese weapons and platforms, such as J-10 and JF-17 fighter planes and PL-15 E missiles. Top officials have also said that China was providing real-time intelligence assistance to Pakistan during the conflict.

“In the case of Pakistan, I can say that it’s only the Pakistan soldier which is only pressing the button. The equipment which is there is from a different country. The information which is reaching through the satellites is from a different country. The artificial intelligence network is provided is also from a country. So, what it means? If Pakistan is obtaining this capability from somewhere. It means the interoperability is a cause of concern for me. Exchange of information during the operations is a cause of concern for me,” said Dwivedi.

Last year, Lieutenant General Rahul Singh, the deputy Army chief, said that China provided “live inputs” to Pakistan during the conflict. He said the situation was such that India fought two adversaries during the conflict, with Pakistan being the “front face” and China providing “all possible support”.

When asked about his top concern, Dwivedi said the only challenge was to be able to read the events, connect the dots, and not be surprised. He cited Operation Sindoor as an outcome of such preparations. He said when India launched Operation Sindoor, every component of the armed forces and intelligence services knew what to do.

“It was like an orchestra. Every soldier knew its role what is to be done. And that’s why the orders were there, executionary orders were there, and every soldier on ground performed the duty which he was required to perform,” said Dwivedi.

As for reforms, Dwivedi said that jointness within the branches of the military shall come first and then integration of operational commands will follow. He added that there should be “good news” in this area this year.

Dwivedi said that the focus remains on increasing synergy within the armed forces and building a leaner and sharper military.

“If I have to look at: ‘chhota hai toh accha hai’. It means the bigger organisations, bigger deployment will not work out because they are visible. Therefore, you have to be small, you have to be self-contained and only look at the mass effect at the point of decision,” said Dwivedi.

Listing developments like the creation of combined arms brigade, Bhairav units, and the drone regiment, Dwivedi said that the organisational and doctrinal transformation is already in motion. As for the equipment transformation, such as the induction of Rafales, he said that requires a gestation period and will need time — more than five to seven years.