Army chief warns Pakistan over terror support, says it must choose between ‘geography or history’

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday delivered a stern message to Pakistan over cross-border terrorism, warning that continued support to terror groups targeting India would have serious consequences.

Speaking during an interaction session titled “Sena Samwad” at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, General Dwivedi said Pakistan would have to decide “whether it wants to be part of geography or history” if it continued to harbour and support terrorists operating against India.

According to reports, the Army chief’s remarks came while responding to questions regarding India’s security preparedness and possible responses to future terror threats similar to those linked to Operation Sindoor.

The comments are among the strongest public statements made by the Army chief in recent months amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan over terrorism, border security and regional instability.

General Dwivedi’s warning also comes against the backdrop of repeated statements by Indian defence officials asserting that India would respond firmly to any future terror attack traced to Pakistan-based groups.

India has long accused Pakistan of providing safe havens and logistical support to terrorist organisations operating in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country. Pakistan has repeatedly denied the allegations.

The reference to “geography or history” echoed similar warnings issued by Indian military and political leadership in the past. In October 2025, General Dwivedi had said Pakistan must stop “state-sponsored terrorism” if it wanted to maintain its place “in history and geography”.

The Army chief’s latest remarks come amid heightened security focus along India’s western borders following recent regional tensions, cross-border infiltration concerns and military modernisation efforts by both India and Pakistan.

India has significantly increased surveillance, border infrastructure and counter-terror preparedness in recent years, particularly after attacks such as Pulwama in 2019 and subsequent military escalations between the two countries.

The Indian military leadership has also repeatedly stressed that future responses to terror attacks would not necessarily follow past patterns of restraint.

There was no immediate official response from Pakistan to the Army chief’s statement.