F OR the first time, a Chief of Staff of the Indian Army has used the tough word against Pakistan. If it does not stop its indulgence in terrorism, then India will wipe out Pakistan, he thundered as he addressed soldiers in a cantonment. The reference was, obviously, to “Operation Sindoor” and its success, but General Upendra Dwivedi went a step forward and said that India’s next response would be far more tough and decisive if Pakistan continued its indulgence in terrorism in any manner. India would not mind taking the extreme step to wipe out Pakistan. This assertion did not catch the nation by surprise because the Army chief was only reflecting the national mood. In the past some time, statements about Pakistan from Indian leadership -- whether political or military -- have been getting stronger in tone and tenor.

 

There is a complete unanimity among the leaders that Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir would one day merge in India as part of natural flow of history. This sentiment is visible in public mood as well -- so much so that the common people in the street wondered why the Government did not snatch back PoK as part of “Operation Sindoor”. On many occasions in the past couple of years, many Indian leaders -- political or military -- have stated that taking back Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir is only a matter of time and choice. However, the tough word about wiping out Pakistan if it did not stop its indulgence in terrorism peaks the Indian sentiment about Pakistan. General Upendra Dwivedi was deliberate in making that statement obviously because he has been authorised by the Government to say so in unequivocal terms. The Army chief knows every nuance of what he said.

 

He also knows that wiping out a country from the map is a very big challenge with innumerable practical difficulties (that may sound impossible at times). Despite that, General Dwivedi chose to make the statement -- not just for optics but with a clear purpose of telling the world how Pakistan is pushing India to a point of precipitation. As Army chief, it is General Dwivedi’s duty to assure the soldiers of the country’s intrinsic military strength, political will, and national resolve. But it is clear that the General did not make the statement for cosmetic purpose. Much to the contrary, he wished to communicate to his soldiers -- and also to the nation (and the world) -- that if pushed hard beyond its limit of patience, India would not mind going for Pakistan’s jugular vein.

 

The nation cherishes such resolve.It is necessary to understand that when an Army chief makes such a statement, he is conscious of the intrinsic military strength the country has amassed over time. It is common knowledge that in the past some time, India’s military preparedness has been on an ascendency in several ways. Backed by a strong economy and stronger popular resolve and political will, the Indian Armed Forces -- Army, Navy, and Air Force -- and its multiple extensions have become strong enough to undertake a full scale war required to wipe out a militarily strong country like Pakistan. The question is not just about the country’s military strength, but also of the nation’s will to go through the dirty rigours of war that may take a long time to get over. General Upendra Dwivedi also is fully conscious of all these dimensions, and yet chose to utter the tough word. That points to the direction that the thinking is taking in corridors of power in India.