Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi Warns ‘Next War May Happen Soon’, Calls for United Preparedness

August 10, 2025 MTIMES 28 Views Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, IIT Madras, India defence, Indian Army Research Cell, Make in India defence, next war may happen soon, Operation Sindoor, Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan tensions 2 min read

In a stark warning amidst rising geopolitical tensions, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has said that India’s next war may happen soon — and it will not be fought by soldiers alone. Speaking at IIT Madras on August 4 during the inauguration of the Indian Army Research Cell, he emphasised the need for a “whole-of-nation” approach to national defence, urging citizens, institutions, and the military to prepare collectively.

“The next war which we are looking at, it may happen soon. We have to prepare accordingly, and this time we will have to fight this battle together,” General Dwivedi said, stressing that technology, civil readiness, and public participation will be as decisive as traditional military strength.

BREAKING:

"The next war which we are looking at, it may happen soon, we've to prepare accordingly, and this time we'll have to fight this battle together."

– General Upendra Dwivedi pic.twitter.com/DybbkO8W9F
— The Armoury Brief (@TheArmouryBrief) August 10, 2025

Why the Army Chief Believes the Next War May Happen Soon

General Dwivedi highlighted lessons from Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory precision strikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack. He explained that the campaign integrated advanced technology with strategic communication, framing victory as much a battle of narratives as of arms.

He noted that Pakistan’s domestic perception was one of victory, despite suffering heavy losses. “If you ask a Pakistani whether you lost or won, he’d say, my chief has become field marshal, we must have won only,” the Army Chief remarked.

The Army’s counter-narrative, built around the slogan “Justice done,” became one of the most viewed globally. This message was reinforced through public briefings by two women officers — one from the Army and one from the Air Force — along with the unveiling of an operation logo designed in-house.

Emphasising that modern defence is a shared responsibility, General Dwivedi said collaborative projects are underway with Indian institutions, ranging from building community bunkers in border areas to developing advanced drones.

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