Army Chief Warns Pakistan on Sheltering Terrorists

 New Delhi: Army Chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday warned Pakistan that if it continued to harbour terrorists and operate against India, it would have to “decide whether it wants to be part of geography or history.”

“If you have heard me earlier, what I have said is that Pakistan, if it continues to harbour terrorists and operate against India, then they have to decide whether they want to be part of geography or history or not,” Gen. Dwivedi said.

The Army Chief was responding to a question during an interactive session hosted by ‘Uniform Unveiled’ at the Manekshaw Centre. He was asked how the Indian Army would respond if circumstances similar to those that led to Operation Sindoor last year arose again.

Gen. Dwivedi’s remarks, though brief, carried a blunt message to Pakistan and reiterated India’s stand against terrorism.

During the fireside chat, Gen. Dwivedi also spoke about his personal dream of opening a cafe named ‘Ahista Zindagi’, which he said would serve as a retreat for the senses in a fast-paced life.

Asked about his plans beyond his military career, he said, “I think maybe at the level of colonel only, I realised that it is time to pay back to society, which has catapulted you to such a height. It is time for you to say thanks and appreciate whatever you have been able to gain during these times.”

Gen. Dwivedi, born on July 1, 1964, is set to retire on June 30.

He said military leaders like him had a responsibility to mentor serving personnel as well as civilians. “You have a lot of stories, experiences and lessons, but the only thing is, be watchful,” he said, while cautioning that the younger generation was showing shorter attention spans and less patience.

The Army Chief also said he planned to contribute to efforts to stem the migration of tribal community members from villages in his home state.

“I am also planning to open a cafe called ‘Ahista Zindagi’. Today, everybody is moving so fast that they are getting burnt out. You do not take time to stop, decide, make choices and then move on with those selective choices,” Gen. Dwivedi said.

He said the cafe would be a place where people could relax over a cup of coffee and access a free consultation service. “The aim is to have a good library where people can come and read, and also interact with each other. When you are with a team, you will always find a solution system,” he said.

He cautioned that when people function in isolation and rely only on internet-based resources, they may not get clarity on what they are looking for. The cafe is learnt to be planned in Bhopal.

The Army Chief urged youth to stay fit, work hard, develop leadership qualities and choose physical activities over watching reels on social media as a way to relax and build discipline in a world shaped by rapidly changing technologies.