Lieutenant General Rajiv Gay said on Thursday operation sindor Proving that “Atmanirbhar is not just a slogan, it is indeed a force multiplier”, highlighting the role of homeland defense systems and coordinated multi-agency operations during conflicts.At a press conference to mark the first anniversary of the operation, Ghai said more than 65 per cent of India’s defense equipment is now manufactured domestically and described the military response as a calibrated operation that achieved its objectives but did not escalate into a protracted conflict.“Operation Sindoor proved that Atmanirbhar is not just a slogan, it is indeed a force multiplier. Today, more than 65 per cent of our defense equipment is manufactured domestically,” he said.Jai said Operation Sindoor marked the beginning of India’s ongoing fight against terrorism and claimed that India would defend its sovereignty and security “decisively, professionally and with the utmost responsibility”.He also quoted poet Dushyant Kumar’s poem to claim that the operation was not the end but only the beginning.“Sirf humama khada karna mera maqsad nahi. Meri koshish hai ki yeh soorat badalni chahiye. Operation Sindoor is not the end. It is just the beginning. India’s fight against terrorism will continue. One year on, we remember not only this operation but the principles behind it. India will defend its sovereignty, security and people decisively, professionally and responsibly,” Gay added.Talking about the strategy of the operation, he said that India has adopted a cautious approach, combining decisive military action with controlled escalation.“In an era of ongoing conflicts around the world, we struck hard, achieved clear objectives, and then when the Pakistanis were forced to negotiate and asked us to cease hostilities, we decided to cease hostilities,” Lieutenant General Ghai said.Also read: How Operation Sindoor unfolded, one strike at a timeHe added: “These targets were achieved through calibrated firing and violent shocks, changing the enemy’s risk appetite and disrupting their communications. How Operation Sindoor unfolded was to strike and control in one go, rather than dragging India into a protracted war or conflict, the ill effects of which we have seen in ongoing conflicts around the world.”Gayi also highlighted the role played by intelligence, cyber and electronic warfare units, as well as diplomacy and internal coordination during the operation.
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“Accurate information provided by intelligence agencies is critical for pinpoint targeting. Cyber and electronic warfare forces maintain information dominance. The government manages the international environment as well as internal security and public assurance,” he said.The armed forces executed the operation with precision and with limited collateral damage, he added, adding that coordinated efforts across multiple agencies and domains will serve as a model for future operations.Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on May 7, 2025, in which 26 people were killed.As part of the action, indian armed forces Strikes were carried out against terror launch pads in Pakistan as well as in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.The Indian Army targeted and destroyed nine terror launch pads associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Mujahideen, killing more than 100 terrorists in the operation.
