‘Abhi Picture Baki Hai…’: Former Indian Army Chief Naravane On ‘Operation Sindoor’

After India’s recent precision military strike, former Chief of the Indian Army, General Manoj Naravane, posted a cryptic yet resolute message on social media: “Abhi picture baki hai…” (The story isn’t over yet). This statement came in the wake of the successful launch of ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, 2025, a significant military action targeting nine major terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The Operation: A Swift and Decisive Response

Operation Sindoor was executed in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 26 individuals, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. This devastating assault prompted India to strike back with a powerful message, eliminating critical terrorist infrastructure linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). In the early hours of May 7, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully struck nine high-value targets within Pakistan and PoK, including:

  • Markaz Subhan Allah – Jaish-e-Mohammad, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan
  • Markaz Taiba Nangal Sahdan – Lashkar-e-Taiba, Muridke, Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan
  • Sarjal/Tehra Kalan Facility – Jaish-e-Mohammad, Shakargarh, District Narowal, Punjab, Pakistan
  • Mehmoona Joya Facility – Hizbul Mujahideen, Sialkot District, Punjab, Pakistan
  • Markaz Ahle Hadith Barnala – Lashkar-e-Taiba, Bhimber District, PoJK
  • Markaz Saidna Hazrat Abbas Bin Abdul Mutalib (Markaz Abbas) – JeM, Mohalla Roli Dhara Bypass Road, Kotli, PoJK
  • Maskar Raheel Shahid – Hizbul Mujahideen, Kotli District, PoJK
  • Shawai Nallah Camp
  • Syedna Bilal Masjid – Main center of JeM in PoJK, opposite Red Fort, Muzaffarabad

Ceasefire Violations and Escalating Tensions

Despite the precision of these strikes, Pakistan responded just hours later by violating the Ceasefire Agreement, firing artillery shells into Bhimber Gali in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army swiftly responded with “appropriate” countermeasures, reaffirming India’s stance on maintaining its territorial integrity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the Indian Armed Forces complete freedom to decide the mode, timing, and scale of their response. During a high-level security meeting with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Anil Chauhan, and the chiefs of all three armed forces, PM Modi asserted, “It is our national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism.”

india