25 minutes, 9 terror camps, 70 terrorists: Lt General Satish Dua decodes Operation Sindoor

INDIA'S PAHALGAM REVENGE: 21 Missiles, 9 Sites, 80 Terrorists: Lt Gen Dua Shares Explosive Details
NEW DELHI: Lt General Satish Dua decoded " Operation Sindoor " carried out by Indian Armed Forces on Wednesday in retaliation to Pahalgam attack against Pakistan. The operation lasted for 25 minutes and led to the elimination of at least 70 terrorists. The military targeted nine terrorist camps and infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK.In an exclusive interview with the TOI, he also clarified India's stance following the operation, emphasizing that India has no desire to escalate tensions but remains fully prepared to respond if provoked by Pakistan."India will only go as far as Pakistan goes," he said talking about what would be the possible next steps to Operation Sindoor.He further discussed the nature of the strikes and world's reaction to the operation, especially China.When asked how far can India go, he said, " Now, Pakistan does not have wherewithal to have, let alone protracted a short war. It doesn't have ammunition, it doesn't have money. So how, how far can it go? Can it escalate into a full-blown conflict? To my military mind, not really. That's a ballpark answer I gave. But, what it'll do that will dictate what our response will be.""What should our response be? As an ascending power and a responsible nation, we would like to keep a check on escalation, the escalatory metrics, because it is in no one's interest to have a war. Full blown war. This morning news I read somewhere that India has suddenly now jumped to becoming the fourth largest economy. Today we overtaken Japan. So with that, do we want it? Yes, we can have it. We have money, we have ammunition, we are prepared. All that is straight. So that, that's where this, state of affairs lies," he added.Reacting to the global response on India's action and whether it was on expected lines, he said, "I would say it is better than it could have been. Because China has called out, but overall, if you read through the statement, it is fairly muted. They still want countries to resolve their issues. They are duty bound to support Pakistan because there, they talk of their friendship higher than Himalayas, et cetera. So they do make that rhetoric."But as in the past, as far as high profile terror attacks are concerned, China is not making very pointed or pithy statements against India. And I suspect it is because China also wants to be seen as a responsible nation, and because it is hoping to be the next superpower," he added.Responding to whether the Pahalgam revenge was complete or there was more coming, he said, "We have to leave it for the present leadership to do it. We are having a discussion over here so, I will not like to categorically comment that if this is ongoing or is over, but all I can state very categorically is India has stated that, we have done this because you did Pahalgam. We have done it without collateral damage or civilian casualties, without hitting any military sites.""It is also non-escalatory because no civilians have been targeted, no military installations have been targeted, and I think their lies a measured response. The onus now will be on Pakistan," he noted.Pahalgam attack took place on April 22 and left 25 Indians and one Nepalese citizen dead. Since then, Pakistan has continuously violated ceasefire at LoC areas drawing proportionate response from Indian Army.

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On June 16, Jammu and Kashmir union territory administration declared all the routes leading to the Amarnath holy cave as a 'no flying zone'. As per the orders, no one is allowed to use 'any kind of aviation platforms' including drones and balloons during the duration of the yatra that begins from July 1 and goes on till August 10. According to the administration, the decision was taken on the 'advice' of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Retired Lieutenant General Hooda, who was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian army's Northern Command during the 2016 'surgical strike' in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, said the concern of the security establishment in Jammu and Kashmir regarding drones is rightly placed. 'After seeing how drone technology has been used in Ukraine, I anticipate that for not just the Pakistani military but even the non-state actors, the use of drones is a feasibility they will adopt.' Given their readiness of use, low cost and capacity to go unnoticed, Hooda added, the security establishment has to be proactive. 'Drones are easy to fly and very difficult to protect against. They are so small that one often doesn't even notice how suddenly they appear. We have already seen an attack on the Jammu airbase,' Hooda remarked, referring to the June 2021 attack on Jammu station of the Indian Air Force. 'So now, when it comes to security force establishments, sensitive areas, and sensitive targets, we have to be extremely concerned and careful.'