Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi. File| Photo: Defense PRO via PTI Photo
The Indian Navy was minutes away from striking Pakistan from the sea during Operation Sindoor when Islamabad requested a halt to the kinetic actions, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi said on Wednesday (April 1, 2026).
The Navy chief was speaking at a naval investiture ceremony here, where he awarded the 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 demonstrated exemplary readiness and determination of the Indian Navy as its forces deployed rapidly and maintained a highly aggressive posture throughout the period, he said.
“It is no longer a hidden fact that we were minutes away from striking Pakistan from the sea when they asked to stop the kinetic actions,” Admiral Tripathi said of the Navy’s role in the operation.
Through swift and decisive actions during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Navy has boosted the nation’s confidence and trust in its capabilities, he added.
“Apart from Operation Sindoor and the relentless operational tempo throughout the year, we were also very proud to demonstrate the breadth and depth of our operational capabilities to the Prime Minister during the historic 17-hour night engagement with the Indian Navy on the West Coast,” Admiral Tripathi said.
Speaking about the conflict in West Asia, he said more than 20 merchant ships have been attacked in the region since the war involving the US, Israel and Iran broke out.
Nearly 1,900 vessels remain trapped amid hostilities, he said, adding that daily traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted to six to seven transits, compared with a pre-conflict average of about 130.
“At a time when the global order is marked by increasing fragmentation and friction, the seas are no longer secondary arenas into which continental conflicts spill over. Instead, they are becoming the first arena where strategic intent is signaled and contested, often with disproportionate consequences,” the Navy chief added.
At the same time, he said, evolving technology and tactics have not only reshaped the way conflicts are planned, initiated and sustained, but have also made unconventional challenges more complex and less predictable to face.
“As a result, the prevailing maritime environment requires a careful alignment of operational agility and foresight at the organizational level, combat readiness and operational effectiveness at the unit level, and professional excellence anchored in courage and judgment at the individual level,” Admiral Tripathi said.
He said the Indian Navy has confirmed the country’s commitment as a first responder in the region through various Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions conducted at short notice and under challenging conditions, from Operation Brahma in Myanmar to Operation Sagar Bandhu in Sri Lanka.
“The sustained focus on Atmanirbharta has not only enabled us to complete our transformation into a naval builder, but has also helped us gain strong momentum in capability induction with the commissioning of 12 ships and submarines in a single year,” Admiral Tripathi added.
Published – 2 Apr 2026 02:43 IST
