India was prepared to launch a naval strike on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi has said, months after the military action carried out in May 2025.
Speaking at the Naval Investiture Ceremony, Admiral Tripathi praised Operation Sindoor as a reflection of the Indian Navy’s resolve. He noted that the Navy maintained a highly aggressive posture throughout the operation and revealed that India was “just minutes away” from striking Pakistan from the sea before Islamabad requested a halt to kinetic actions, according to ANI.
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, 2025, two weeks after a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam claimed the lives of 26 civilians. The operation aimed to avenge the attack and dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. More than 100 terrorists were reportedly killed, followed by several days of military tensions between the two countries, before a ceasefire was announced on May 10.
Admiral Tripathi also stated that the Navy’s actions during the operation boosted national confidence and demonstrated its capabilities to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a historic 17-hour overnight embarkation on the western seaboard.
He added that the Navy’s assertive stance during Operation Sindoor forced the Pakistan Navy to remain close to its ports or near the Makran coast. The Navy chief further indicated that the operation is ongoing and has not yet formally concluded.
