NEW DELHI – Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi issued a sharp warning to Pakistan on Monday, declaring that the brief military escalation in May was merely a “trailer” and that India is fully prepared for any future confrontation. His remarks, delivered at a defence conference in New Delhi, came just days after a deadly suicide bombing near the Red Fort killed 12 people—the capital’s first such attack since 2011.
Dwivedi stated, “The movie hasn’t even started — only a trailer was shown, and, after the trailer, it was over within 88 hours.” He added that India would respond decisively if provoked again, saying, “We’re fully prepared for the future, and if Pakistan gives us such an opportunity, we’d like to provide them with a thorough education on how a responsible nation should behave with its neighbours.”
The May conflict was triggered by an attack on tourists in India-occupied Kashmir, which New Delhi linked to Pakistan without presenting evidence. Islamabad denied involvement and called for a neutral investigation. India responded with airstrikes in Punjab and Azad Kashmir on May 7, followed by retaliatory strikes from Pakistan. The four-day escalation ended with U.S. diplomatic intervention on May 10.
Meanwhile, investigations into the November 10 Delhi blast have intensified. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) presented a suspect, Amir Rashid Ali, in court, alleging he conspired with suicide bomber Umarun Nabi to carry out the attack. Nabi, a medical professor, allegedly used a vehicle-borne IED in the bombing. A third suspect was arrested in Srinagar for providing technical support, including drone modifications and attempted rocket construction.
The NIA confirmed the blast was a suicide bombing and said multiple teams are pursuing leads across states to uncover the full network behind the attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to bring all conspirators to justice, branding the incident a terrorist act.
The twin developments—military rhetoric and domestic terror investigations—underscore India’s heightened security posture and growing regional tensions ahead of upcoming elections.
