Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Wednesday said the force was “just minutes away” from launching a strike on Pakistan from the sea when offensive action under Operation Sindoor was halted at Islamabad’s request.Operation Sindoor was officially halted around 5.30 pm on May 10 last year.Admiral Tripathi said the episode demonstrated the Navy’s exemplary readiness and resolve, with units undertaking swift deployment and maintaining a highly aggressive posture throughout the period. He was addressing an investiture ceremony in Kochi.“Through swift and resolute actions during Operation Sindoor, the Navy reinforced the nation’s confidence and trust in its capabilities,” he added.Speaking about the West Asia crisis, the Navy Chief said the global order was marked by increasing fragmentation and friction. “In such an environment, the seas are no longer secondary theatres where continental conflicts spill over; instead, they are becoming the primary arena where strategic intent is signalled and contested, often with disproportionate consequences,” he added.Citing developments in the Strait of Hormuz, he said since the start of the conflict, more than 23 merchant vessels have been attacked, nearly 1,900 vessels remain stranded and daily traffic has fallen sharply to just six to seven transits, compared to a pre-conflict average of about 130.At the same time, evolving technologies and tactics have not only reshaped how conflicts are planned, initiated and sustained, but have also made non-traditional challenges more complex and less predictable to counter.“The prevailing maritime environment demands a careful alignment of functional agility and foresight at the organisational level, combat readiness and operational effectiveness at the unit level, and professional excellence anchored in boldness and judgement at the individual level,” he said.