DGMO Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, the man behind India’s deadly Operation Sindoor strikes on Pak & PoK terror hubs

Amid tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian Armed Forces on Sunday held a media briefing, where they shared details about Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan’s Punjab province and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) on May 7.

The press conference was led by key operational commanders: Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt General Rajiv Ghai, Director General Air Operations (DGAO) Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General Naval Operations (DGNO) Vice Admiral AN Pramod, and Major General SS Sharda from the Directorate General of Public Information.

Addressing the media, the panel stated that Indian forces had “eliminated 100 terrorists across nine locations” during the operation, including “three high-profile operatives linked to the Kandahar hijacking and Pulwama attack”.

Lt Gen Ghai recounted the Pahalgam incident and described the May 7 strikes as “precision operations” executed jointly by the Army, Air Force, and Navy against “Pakistan’s terror infrastructure”. “The targets were only terrorists, that prevented collateral damage,” he said.

Officials stated that Pakistan had attempted retaliatory drone and missile strikes on Indian military installations following the offensive. Lt Gen Ghai also paid tribute to the five Indian soldiers and civilians who “tragically lost their lives” during Operation Sindoor.

In his address, he stressed that India had exercised significant restraint, noting, “We have thus far exercised immense restraint and our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory. However, any threat to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and safety of our citizens will be met with decisive force.” On the losses sustained by Pakistan’s military, he confirmed reports indicating “35-40 fatalities.”

Lt Gen Ghai revealed that his Pakistani counterpart had reached out to him the previous afternoon, requesting a way to halt the hostilities. “It was his Pakistani counterpart who made a call to him last afternoon, requesting a way out to stop the hostilities.” The two DGMOs reached an agreement on Saturday afternoon to cease all military action, including firing on land, air, and sea, with effect from 1700 hours Indian Standard Time.

But who is Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai?

Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, is a distinguished officer in the Indian Army who currently holds the position of Director General of Military Operations (DGMO). Since October 25, 2024, he has been at the forefront of India’s military operations, overseeing crucial decisions and strategies to maintain operational readiness and counter external threats.

Lt General Rajiv Ghai’s notable operations:

Operation Sindoor (May 2025)

In May 2025, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, as DGMO, oversaw the planning and execution of Operation Sindoor—an ongoing cross-border military operation launched in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack. The Indian Armed Forces conducted coordinated precision strikes on nine identified terror infrastructure sites located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). As per Army estimates, the operation resulted in the neutralisation of over 100 terrorists, including high-value targets associated with the Kandahar hijacking and the Pulwama attack. Indian security officials also stated that 35–40 Pakistani military personnel were killed in the strikes. The Indian side suffered five fatalities during the course of the operation.

Indo-Myanmar Border Review (February 2025)

Earlier, in February 2025, Lt Gen Ghai undertook a two-day visit to Manipur to assess the security landscape along the Indo-Myanmar border. During his visit, he met with key officials, including the governor, chief secretary, director general of police, and state security advisor. The focus was on assessing the readiness of the forces stationed in the area and improving coordination between agencies, especially with the ongoing instability along the border.

Honours and decorations

Lt. Gen. Ghai’s exemplary service has been recognised with several prestigious awards:

•  Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM)
•  Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM)
• Sena Medal with three bars (SM)