Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi detailed the strategic success of Operation Sindoor during a speech at IIT Madras on August 9, 2025. The operation was launched on May 7, 2025, as a decisive response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. General Dwivedi described Operation Sindoor as a complex “grey zone” military campaign akin to a game of chess, where both sides made unpredictable moves just short of conventional warfare. The mission targeted nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, destroying key terrorist infrastructure and eliminating over 100 militants with zero collateral damage. He credited the Indian government’s political clarity and “free hand” granted to the armed forces—following Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s directive of “enough is enough” on April 23—for the operation’s bold and effective execution. The operation marked the first time India struck deep into Pakistan’s heartland at key targets codenamed “Nursery” and “Masters,” which came as a shock to Islamabad. General Dwivedi also mocked Pakistan’s claims of victory, pointing to the promotion of Pakistan’s Army Chief as a propaganda tool. The operation is regarded as a significant demonstration of India’s military transformation and strategic resolve to counter terrorism and protect national sovereignty.