Former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has disclosed new details about Operation Sindoor, saying an Indian loitering munition may have inadvertently struck Pakistan’s Kirana Hills while searching for radar systems near the strategically important Sargodha airbase.
Speaking at the Vivekananda International Foundation’s VIMARSH event, Chauhan stressed that Kirana Hills was not deliberately targeted by Indian forces. The area, located roughly 10 km north of Sargodha, has long been associated with Pakistan’s strategic and nuclear infrastructure.
Loitering Munition May Have Hit Kirana Hills
According to Chauhan, India had deployed multiple loitering munitions around Sargodha before subsequent strikes. Their mission was to search for and engage Pakistani radar installations.
Such munitions have a limited endurance. Chauhan explained that after searching for roughly two hours without acquiring a target, one of them may have exhausted its operational time and come down on one of the Kirana Hills.
His account provides a possible explanation for earlier speculation about whether India had struck the sensitive area during the operation.
Crucially, Chauhan reiterated the position previously given by then Director General of Air Operations Air Marshal A.K. Bharti: India did not intentionally target Pakistan’s nuclear facilities at Kirana Hills.
Skardu Airbase Was Also on Target List
Chauhan disclosed another significant operational detail: the Indian Air Force had received clearance to strike Skardu airbase in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s Gilgit-Baltistan region.
However, adverse weather conditions prevented the planned mission from going ahead. Indian forces subsequently shifted their focus to another Pakistani military installation, including Bholari airbase.
The revelation offers a fresh look at how weather, intelligence and changing battlefield conditions influenced targeting decisions during Operation Sindoor.
Sargodha Strike Cleared Despite Pakistan Contact
Chauhan also revealed that Pakistan had contacted India seeking talks while military operations were underway. According to his account, the Indian Air Force subsequently sought clearance to proceed with its planned strike on Sargodha, and the operation was allowed to continue.
The disclosures underline India’s effort to maintain military pressure while simultaneously managing the risk of escalation during the confrontation.
Fresh Insight Into Operation Sindoor
Chauhan’s comments provide some of the most detailed public information yet about the operational calculations behind Operation Sindoor—including radar-hunting loitering munitions, the Kirana Hills incident, the proposed Skardu strike and last-minute changes to targeting plans.
They also reinforce an important distinction: while an Indian munition may have landed in the Kirana Hills area, Chauhan says the strategically sensitive site itself was never selected for a deliberate strike.
About the Author
