Jammu: In a stern military message to Islamabad, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday said if Pakistan 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”.
At an interactive session hosted by ‘Uniform Unveiled’ at the Manekshaw Centre here, he was asked about how the Indian Army will respond if circumstances that led to Operation Sindoor last year comes up again.
The Army chief said, “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.”
His remarks at the event, ‘Sena Samwad’, came days after the country and the Indian military marked the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor.
Gen Dwivedi’s remarks, though brief carried a blunt message to Pakistan, and reiterated India’s stand against terrorism.
Operation Sindoor was launched early on May 7 last year in retaliation to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, with Indian forces conducting precision strikes on multiple terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Pakistan later also launched offensives against India, and all subsequent counter-offensives by India were also carried out under Operation Sindoor.
The military conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, lasting nearly 88 hours, halted after they reached an understanding on the evening of May 10.
Sharing a personal dream – to open a cafe named ‘Ahista Zindagi’, which will serve as a retreat for the senses in a fast-paced life.
Gen Dwivedi said the cafe, which he has planned to set up in his native state of Madhya Pradesh, will also have a library, aiming to serve as a focal point for countless conversations over a cup of coffee, a meeting point of ideas, all towards achieving a more fulfilling life for the people.
It is learnt that the cafe is being planned to be set up in Bhopal.
During the session held as part of ‘Sena Samwad’ hosted by ‘Uniform Unveiled’ at the Manekshaw Centre here, Gen Dwivedi engaged in a fireside chat with a moderator and then interacted with a group of students drawn from various schools in Delhi and its neighbouring cities.
The Army chief urged the youth to stay fit, work hard, develop leadership qualities, and choose physical activities over watching ‘reels’ on social media, as a way of relaxing and to inculcate a sense of discipline, at a time when the world is being shaped by rapidly changing technologies.
The top Army officer was born in 1964, and during his long and distinguished service spanning nearly 40 years, he has served in a variety of command, staff, instructional and foreign appointments.
In June 2024, he was appointed the Chief of the Army Staff.
During the fireside chat, he was asked about his plans beyond his role in the military uniform.
“I think maybe at the level of colonel only, I realised that it is time to pay back to society, which has catapulted you to such a height. Because it is time for you to say thanks, and appreciate, for whatever you have been able to gain during these times,” the Army chief said.
Gen Dwivedi also underscored that for military leaders like him, it is time to mentor the serving personnel, and also civilians.
“You have a lot of stories, experiences and lessons, but the only thing is, be watchful,” he said, cautioning against youngsters displaying a shortened attention span and less patience.
The Army chief also said that he plans to contribute to stemming the migration of tribals out of their villages in his home state.
“I’m also planning to open a cafe called ‘Ahista Zindagi’. Because today, everybody is moving so fast that you get burned out. You do not take time to stop, decide, and make choices. And thereafter, move on to those selective choices only,” Gen Dwivedi said.
He said the cafe would be a place where people could relax over a cup of coffee, and there would be a “free consultation” service.
“The aim is also to have a good library, where people can read and interact with each other. When you are with a team, you’ll always find a solution system,” the Army chief noted.
He cautioned that when people start functioning in isolation and only rely on internet-based resources, they may not realise what they are looking for.
Gen Dwivedi is an alumnus of the Sainik School in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. He was commissioned into the Infantry (Jammu and Kashmir Rifles) of the Indian Army on December 15, 1984.
On the evolving nature of warfare, he said there are changes as far as the present-day battlefield is concerned, as well as the future battlefield.
“The present battlefield is more about the first three domains: land, maritime and air. Now, these three domains have to give space to three different domains: cyber, space, and the cognitive. But it doesn’t mean the first three domains will go away. Because, in the Indian Army, we look at all five generations of warfare.
“The trench warfare, the ditch-cum-bund that is in Punjab and other places. Then, artillery and manoeuvre warfare with tanks. Then, rockets and missiles, or hybrid warfare, where there are so many internal security issues. You also have to include artificial intelligence and quantum,” the Army chief said.
“So, a soldier has to put all these things together in his mind. The future warfare is going to be more challenging, because all this has to be put in somebody’s brain. And, your generation will definitely be better off than ours. Because, in our case, we know the definition of artificial intelligence. But you know its application. That’s the biggest difference,” Gen Dwivedi said.
