General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), addressing the annual press conference of the Indian Army on Tuesday, said that the Northeast situation, especially in Manipur, saw an improvement due to the neutral, transparent and decisive actions by security forces.
He said that in response to the turbulence in neighbouring nation, Myanmar, the security forces are working to shield the northeastern region from the spillover effects.
Addressing the mediapersons here, the Army chief said, "As regards the Northeast, neutral, transparent and decisive action by security forces, along with many proactive government initiatives, has led to a marked improvement in the situation in Manipur during 2025."
"Peaceful conduct of the Durand Cup, resumption of cultural festivals and renewal of suspension of operations, that is, SoO, with Kuki insurgent groups in September 2025, have been key markers of stability," he mentioned.
Gen Dwivedi further said that efforts have been made by the Indian Army, along with the Assam Rifles and the Ministry of Home Affairs, to safeguard the northeastern front from the dire circumstances currently existing in Myanmar.
"In response to turbulence in Myanmar, a comprehensive multi-agency security grid comprising Assam Rifles, Army, and Home Ministry is working towards insulating the Northeast from spillover effects. With the successful conduct of phase two elections in Myanmar, we should be able to engage each other more effectively now," he said.
Additionally, he noted that the situation along the northern and northwestern border remains "stable" and "under firm control", but stressed the need for "constant vigil".
He also said that Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has witnessed a significant positive change in 2025, adding that the "theme of terrorism to tourism is gradually taking shape" in the union territory. He further said that in the past year, the security forces eliminated 31 terrorists, of which 65 per cent were of Pakistani origin, including the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Addressing the annual press conference of the Indian Army here, Gen Dwivedi mentioned, "With our continued strategic orientation on this front, our deployment along the Line of Actual Control remains balanced and robust. Concurrently, capability development and infrastructure enhancement are progressing through a whole-of-government approach."
Gen Dwivedi, speaking about the North-western Front, recalled India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack, saying that a "clear decision to respond decisively was taken at the highest level".
"Operation Sindoor was conceptualised and executed with precision. Through 22 minutes of initiation on May 7 and an orchestration that lasted 88 hours up to May 10, the operation reset strategic assumptions by striking deep, dismantling terror infrastructure, and puncturing the longstanding nuclear rhetoric," he said
"The Army successfully destroyed seven out of the nine targets and thereafter played a pivotal role in ensuring a calibrated response to Pak actions," he added.
The Army chief reiterated that Operation Sindoor remains ongoing, and a future misadventure will be resolutely responded to, while adding that the military action was "the best example of tri-service synergy under clear-cut political directive and full freedom to act or respond".
He also acknowledged the "proactive role" of all stakeholders involved in the operation.
Gen Dwivedi stated that since May 10, the situation along the North-western Front and J&K "remains sensitive but firmly under control".
"In 2025, 31 terrorists were eliminated, of which 65 per cent were Pakistan origin, including the three perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack neutralised in Operation Mahadev. Active local terrorists are now in single digits. Terrorist recruitment is almost non-existent, with only two in 2025," he said.
Mentioning the "clear indicators of positive change in J and K", the Army chief cited examples of robust development activity, the revival of tourism and the peaceful Shri Amarnath Yatra, which saw more than four lakh pilgrims, exceeding the five-year average.
"The theme of terrorism to tourism is gradually taking shape," he said.
(With inputs from IANS)
