Navy was minutes away from striking Pakistan from sea during Operation Sindoor: Admiral Tripathi

Naval Commander Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi said on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 that the Indian Navy was minutes away from striking Pakistan from the sea during Operation Sindoor, in which Islamabad demanded a halt to kinetic actions.

The Navy Commander was speaking here at the naval appointment ceremony where he awarded Yudh Seva Medal to two senior naval officers for their distinguished service during Operation Sindoor conducted last year after the Pahalgam terror attack.

Operation Sindoor saw the Indian Navy demonstrate exemplary preparedness and determination, undertaking rapid deployment of its units and maintaining an extremely aggressive posture throughout the period, he said.

Admiral Tripathi said about the Navy’s role in the operation: “When they demand a cessation of kinetic actions, it is no longer a hidden fact that we are just minutes away from striking Pakistan from the sea.”

He added that through swift and decisive actions during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Navy strengthened the country’s confidence and trust in its capabilities.

“Aside from Operation Sindoor and the relentless operational tempo throughout the year, we also took great pride in showcasing the breadth and depth of our operational capabilities to the Prime Minister during a historic 17-hour night cruise along the west coast with the Indian Navy,” Admiral Tripathi said.

Talking about the West Asia conflict, he said that ever since the war involving the US, Israel, and Iran broke out, more than 20 merchant vessels have been attacked in the region.

About 1,900 ships were stranded amid the conflict, he said, adding that daily traffic in the Strait of Hormuz had fallen sharply to six to seven crossings, compared to the pre-conflict average of 130.

“At a time when the global order is marked by increasing fragmentation and friction, the seas are no longer secondary theaters from which continental conflicts unfold. Instead, they are becoming the primary arena where strategic intent is signaled and discussed, often with disproportionate consequences,” the Navy chief said. he added.

At the same time, he said, evolving technology and tactics are not only reshaping how conflicts are planned, initiated and sustained, but are also making non-traditional challenges more complex and less predictable to counter.

“As a result, the prevailing maritime environment requires careful alignment of functional agility and foresight at the organizational level, combat readiness and operational effectiveness at the unit level, and professional excellence based on courage and judgment at the individual level,” Admiral Tripathi said.

He said the Indian Navy has supported the country’s resolve to be the first responder in the region through various Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions, from Operation Brahma in Myanmar to Operation Sagar Bandhu in Sri Lanka, carried out at short notice and in challenging conditions.

“Continuous focus Atmanirbharta “This not only enabled us to complete our transformation into a builder Navy but also helped us achieve a strong momentum in capability development with the commissioning of 12 ships and submarines in a single year,” Admiral Tripathi added.