'Decide whether want to be part of geography, history, or not': Indian Army chief's warning to Pakistan

Indian Army chief Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday issued a stern warning to Pakistan, saying Islamabad must decide whether it wants to remain "part of geography or history" if it continues to harbour and support terrorism against India.

Speaking during an interactive session at the Manekshaw Centre, General Dwivedi was asked how the Indian Army would respond if circumstances similar to those that led to Operation Sindoor emerged again.

"If you have heard me earlier, what I have said... that Pakistan, if it continues to harbour terrorists and operate against India, then they have to decide whether they want to be part of geography or history or not," the Army chief said.

General Dwivedi's remarks came just over a week after India marked the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor — the military operation launched in response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 last year.

Operation Sindoor was launched in the early hours of May 7, when Indian forces carried out precision strikes targeting terror launchpads and related infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Following the strikes, Pakistan launched retaliatory offensives against India, leading to nearly four days of military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. India's counter-offensives were also conducted under Operation Sindoor.

The conflict, which lasted around 88 hours, eventually came to a halt on May 10 after both sides reached a ceasefire understanding. According to the Indian Army, the understanding was initiated after Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations contacted his Indian counterpart requesting a cessation of hostilities.

General Dwivedi's comments also come at a time when Pakistan has expressed hope for restarting dialogue with India, which has remained suspended for more than a year.

Earlier this week, Pakistan welcomed remarks made by former Indian Army chief M.M. Naravane supporting a statement by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Dattatreya Hosabale that channels for dialogue between India and Pakistan should always remain open.

Responding to those remarks, Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi described calls for dialogue from within India as a "positive development", while adding that Islamabad was waiting to see whether there would be any official response from New Delhi.