Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi ridiculed Pakistan’s portrayal of Operation Sindoor’s outcome by referencing the promotion of Pakistani General Syed Asim Munir to Field Marshal in May.
Dwivedi highlighted how Pakistanis interpret Munir’s promotion as proof of their victory, saying, “You ask a Pakistani whether they lost or won, he will say my chief has become field marshal so we must have won.”
Dwivedi emphasized the power of narrative management in shaping public perception, including among domestic, adversary, and neutral populations. He noted India’s strategic use of social media to control messaging, citing the widely viewed campaign “Justice done: Op Sindoor” as a key success in shaping global opinion.
The Pakistan Prime Minister’s office had announced Munir’s promotion, crediting him with “ensuring the security of the country and defeating the enemy.” However, India maintains that Pakistan sought ceasefire after suffering significant setbacks during Operation Sindoor.
India’s Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh recently revealed that Indian forces inflicted substantial damage on Pakistan’s air defense systems within 80-90 hours, downing five Pakistani fighter jets, further pressuring Pakistan to agree to a truce.