India, Aug. 11 -- Recounting the military's decision-making, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi, on Saturday, laid out the timeline of how India planned and executed Operation Sindoor, a powerful military response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that shocked the nation. He also revealed how the armed forces were given a "free hand" the very next day of the brutal terror incident.

According to the Army chief, the message from the top political leadership was unambiguous, and the sentiment was shared across the armed forces leadership. "All three chiefs were very clear that something had to be done. The free hand was given, 'you decide what is to be done.' That is the kind of confidence, political direction, an...