Pakistan’s military has reacted angrily to strong remarks made by Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi after India reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on terrorism.
International Desk: In the aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack and India’s decisive “Operation Sindoor”, tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated once again. Amid growing outrage over cross-border terrorism, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi delivered a hard-hitting message to Islamabad, warning that Pakistan must decide whether it wishes to survive as a nation or face destruction if it continues sheltering terrorists targeting India.
General Dwivedi made it clear that India would no longer tolerate Pakistan-backed terrorism and said Islamabad’s continued support for extremist groups could have severe consequences. His remarks triggered panic and outrage within Pakistan’s military establishment, which accused India of using “provocative language”.
Responding on Sunday, the Pakistani military criticised the Indian Army Chief’s comments and attempted to portray itself as a supporter of “peaceful coexistence”. However, India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of harbouring and supporting terror organisations responsible for attacks on Indian soil.
Speaking on Saturday, General Dwivedi warned that if Pakistan continued aiding terrorists and carrying out hostile actions against India, it would have to decide whether it wanted to “remain part of geography or become part of history”.
Pakistan’s military labelled the statement “inflammatory” and claimed that responsible nuclear powers should act with restraint and maturity. In a strongly worded response, the Pakistani Army stated that threatening to wipe out a “sovereign nuclear neighbour” reflected “intellectual bankruptcy”.
Islamabad further insisted that India should “recognise Pakistan’s importance” and maintain peaceful relations. At the same time, Pakistan warned that any Indian action against it could trigger consequences extending beyond geographical and political boundaries.
Referring to last year’s four-day military confrontation, Pakistan’s military claimed that India must avoid pushing South Asia towards another conflict that could destabilise the wider region.
The latest war of words follows the brutal Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people lost their lives. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on the night of 6 May last year, carrying out precision air strikes on nine terrorist camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. According to reports, at least 100 terrorists were eliminated during the operation.
The strikes significantly intensified tensions between the two countries, prompting retaliatory attempts by Pakistan. However, Indian armed forces successfully neutralised most of the incoming attacks. Military operations were eventually halted on 10 May after senior officials from both sides held talks through the military hotline.
