NEW DELHI, NOV 17: In a comprehensive assessment, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has outlined the significant positive changes in Jammu and Kashmir since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019.
Addressing a curtain-raiser for the Chanakya Defence Dialogue, 2025, General Dwivedi as per Kashmir Convener emphasized that the most profound change has been the establishment of political clarity and a unified national identity. He illustrated this shift with a personal anecdote from his tenure as Northern Army Commander.
“I recall a woman who told me that before, when a school principal asked children to make a flag for Independence Day, they would go home and ask their mother, ‘Which country’s flag should we make?’ General Dwivedi stated. “The most significant change since August 5, 2019, is that everyone now knows it is the Indian flag they have to make.”
The Army Chief directly linked the region’s subsequent progress to this newfound clarity, stating, “The benefits are evident. An investment of approximately ₹25,000 to ₹26,000 crore has already been made on the ground.”
He highlighted the establishment of premier institutions, including IIM, IIT, NIFT, and AIIMS, the opening of numerous new colleges, and a 21 percent increase in school enrollment. “This year, it was reported that nearly 24,000 of our students have passed the NEET exam,” he added.
Speaking at the event in New Delhi, General Dwivedi provided security updates, noting that approximately 31 terrorists have been neutralized so far this year, with 61 percent being Pakistani nationals. “There has been only one attempt at local recruitment, and that individual was apprehended,” he said.
He also declared an end to the era of widespread street violence, stating, “The point is, there is no stone-pelting, no sloganeering, no frequent shutdowns in Kashmir. All such activities have ceased.”
General Dwivedi affirmed that India is ready to respond to any form of warfare and that those who promote and sponsor terrorism will be given a “befitting reply.” He stated that ‘Operation Sindoor’ was merely a “trailer,” concluding within 88 hours, and that India is prepared for any future circumstances.
The Army Chief asserted that if Pakistan ever commits a misdeed, the Indian Armed Forces would teach the neighboring nation how to behave responsibly. He reiterated India’s longstanding position that “water and blood cannot flow together, and talks and terror cannot go together.”
General Dwivedi also highlighted significant improvements in infrastructure and daily life. “The Udhampur-Baramulla train service is running efficiently and is being utilized effectively. During a recent road closure, apples were transported to Delhi and other states using this very service,” he stated.
He pointed to the record-breaking Amarnath Yatra as a testament to the improved situation. “After the Pahalgam attack, people wondered if pilgrims would come. However, this year, a record 4.13 lakh pilgrims visited, surpassing the numbers of the previous four years.”
General Dwivedi further stated that Jammu and Kashmir is undergoing a rapid and positive transformation from all perspectives. “The youth now have hope and confidence. A sense of awareness is growing, and their participation in the national mainstream is increasing, while the negative narrative from across the border is being effectively contained.”
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