Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, on Wednesday (1st April), said that the Indian Navy was just minutes away from launching a sea attack on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. Admiral Tripathi made the statement at the Naval Investiture Ceremony in Mumbai, where he presented gallantry and distinguished service awards to Indian Navy personnel.
“Operation Sindoor demonstrated exemplary readiness and resolve of our Navy, as our units undertook swift deployment and maintained a highly aggressive posture throughout the period. It is now not a hidden fact that we were just minutes away from striking Pakistan from sea, when they requested a stoppage of kinetic action. Through swift and resolute actions during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Navy reinforced the nation’s confidence and trust in its capabilities,” Admiral Tripathi said.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi says, "Operation Sindoor demonstrated exemplary readiness and resolve of our Navy as our units undertook swift deployment and maintained a highly aggressive posture throughout the period…"
— IANS (@ians_india) April 1, 2026
(Video Source –… pic.twitter.com/uWBpHbhClX
“Besides Op Sindoor and the relentless operational tempo through the year, we were also very proud to showcase the breadth and depth of our operational capabilities to the Honourable Prime Minister during the historic 17-hour overnight embarkation with the Indian Navy on the Western Seaboard,” he added.
Speaking about the ongoing conflict in West Asia and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Admiral Tripathi highlighted how seas have emerged as new battlegrounds, requiring combat readiness. “We have gathered here at a time when the global order is marked by increasing fragmentation and friction. In such an environment, the seas are no longer secondary theatres where continental conflicts spill over. Instead, they are becoming the first arena where strategic intent is signalled and contested, often with disproportionate consequences,” Admiral Tripathi said.
Mumbai: At the Naval Investiture Ceremony 2026, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, says, "We have gathered here at a time when the global order is marked by increasing fragmentation and friction… Recent developments in the states of Hormuz bring this into… pic.twitter.com/LTntlSOfhI
— IANS (@ians_india) April 1, 2026
“Recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz bring this into sharp focus. Since the start of the conflict…more than 23 merchant vessels have been attacked, nearly 1,900 vessels remain stranded and daily traffic has fallen to just 6–7 transits, compared to a pre-conflict average of about 130,” he added.
India launched precision strikes on terrorist camps inside the territory of Pakistan in May last year under its Operation Sindoor. The operation was launched in retaliation for the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, J&K, where Pakistani terrorists killed over two dozen Hindu tourists after verifying their religion.
