Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Western Command, on Tuesday emphasized that Operation Sindoor 2.0 must be deadlier if Pakistan continues its terror activities in India. Speaking to reporters in Jammu, he stated that India’s next response would exceed the scale of destruction inflicted on airbases and military posts during the first Operation Sindoor. “Unless Pakistan changes its mindset, it will continue such actions. In the previous operation, we destroyed its airbases and posts, but they may attempt further attacks. Whatever action we take next will surpass last time… Operation Sindoor 2.0 has to be deadlier,” he said.

Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, was a retaliatory campaign following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. The operation targeted terror infrastructure across the Line of Control (LoC) and inside Pakistan, hitting nine major camps confirmed by multi-agency intelligence, according to a Ministry of Information and Broadcasting release.

Earlier in the day, Lt Gen Katiyar praised the success of Operation Sindoor, attributing it to strong support from the administration, ex-servicemen, and local residents. Speaking at an Ex-servicemen Rally commemorating 60 years since the 1965 India-Pakistan War, he said, “Terrorists killed innocent people in Pahalgam. The Indian Army gave a befitting reply. The operation succeeded because of the support from authorities, ex-servicemen, and locals.” He assured the public that the Indian Army is prepared to prevent future attacks. “Pakistan will attempt to strike again; they often plan Pahalgam-like attacks. We must remain vigilant, and I assure you the Indian Army is ready to counter any nefarious designs,” he said.

Reflecting on the 1965 war, Lt Gen Katiyar noted that Pakistan underestimated the patriotism of Jammu and Kashmir’s people, which contributed to their defeat. “During the war, Pakistan aimed to capture Jammu and Kashmir, sending about 10,000 Razakars trained by their army. But they misjudged the local patriotism. With public support, the Indian Army repelled them,” he added. The 60th anniversary of the ceasefire ending the 1965 Indo-Pak War was observed on September 23, 2025.