New Delhi: Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Army’s Western Command, on Saturday warned that the chances of war on the Western front remain “very high”, stressing the need for full-spectrum preparedness amid continued hostility from Pakistan and evolving patterns of modern warfare.

Addressing the Western Command Investiture Ceremony in New Delhi, Lt Gen Katiyar said, "At the beginning of the lecture, I mentioned that the chances of war on the Western Front are very high. Our relations with Pakistan have not been friendly, despite our tireless efforts... Last year’s incident in Pahalgam was part of this ongoing conspiracy.”

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He added that future hostilities may not remain restricted in scale, cautioning, “Next war with Pakistan may not be a limited one.” The Western Command chief underlined the need to remain prepared across all domains, citing Pakistan’s continued proxy war strategy through terrorism.

Lt Gen Katiyar congratulated units and troops for their role in recent operational successes, including Operation Sindoor, saying, “I would like to congratulate all units, formations and troops of the Western Command for their excellent work in Operation Sindoor, where we taught Pakistan a strong lesson by destroying its terrorist locations and airbases.”

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Presenting gallantry awards to soldiers and units for bravery and distinguished service, he hailed the awardees as inspirations for the force. "Gallantry Award winners, you are our role models. Your bravery inspires every soldier of the Indian Army to dedicate themselves to the defence of the nation. I bow to the brave mothers and brave wives present here. Your families have made immense sacrifices for the country. Even though your soldier husbands or sons may not be with us today, they have become immortal for all of us, for the Army, and for the nation..."

Highlighting the changing character of warfare, Lt Gen Katiyar emphasised the growing role of technology and unmanned systems in future conflicts. He said maintaining high operational readiness and strengthening modern warfare capabilities, particularly through advanced technology and drones, would be decisive in the battles of tomorrow.