Operation Sindoor lead officer Lt Gen Ghai named Deputy Chief of Army Staff

Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai has been promoted to the pivotal role of Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy), a significant elevation where he will oversee all operational verticals of the Indian Army. This promotion follows his recent distinction of being awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) by President Droupadi Murmu for his "exceptional order" of service. Lt Gen Ghai will also continue to hold his current charge as the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), a role he assumed in October 2024. His extensive experience includes serving as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GoC) of the Chinnar Corps, providing him with substantial operational knowledge of Jammu and Kashmir and the Line of Control (LoC).

Lt Gen Ghai played a crucial role in leading Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which claimed 26 lives. The operation successfully targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. During a press conference on May 11, Lt Gen Ghai disclosed that his Pakistani counterpart had proposed a ceasefire on May 10, leading to a mutual agreement to halt hostilities. The Indian Army later clarified that this ceasefire, agreed upon in the DGMO talks on May 12, has no expiry date, emphasizing its indefinite nature.

The Indian Army's Western Command on May 18 released a video of Operation Sindoor on their official X handle, captioned "Planned, trained & executed," conveying the message "Justice served." The video depicted Indian Army personnel and highlighted a soldier stating that the operation aimed to deliver a long-overdue message to Pakistan. The clip further showcased explosions and heavy gunfire, accompanied by a voiceover detailing the destruction of enemy posts on May 9 for ceasefire violations, compelling the enemy to flee. The voiceover concluded by asserting that Operation Sindoor was not merely an action but a crucial lesson for Pakistan that it had failed to learn for decades.