Loitering munition may have hit Kirana Hills during Operation Sindoor: former CDS Anil Chauhan

Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has stated that a loitering munition fired during Operation Sindoor may have impacted the Kirana Hills region, situated near Pakistan's Sargodha, an area known to house nuclear facilities. At the 'VIMARSH' event, Gen. Chauhan mentioned that India had dispatched multiple loitering missions towards Sargodha in search of radars prior to the strikes.

In a press conference during Operation Sindoor, former Director General of Air Operations, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, had previously claimed that Indian armed forces did not target the nuclear facility at Kirana Hills. Air Marshal Bharti had apologized for their lack of awareness about the nuclear installations at Kirana Hills when queried about the incident.

Gen. Chauhan referred to Pakistani media reports of smoke emanating from the area, suggesting that one of the loitering munitions may have hit Kirana Hills. He also highlighted India's enhanced situational awareness and battlefield transparency, which were crucial to the operation's success. The improved networking among military branches allowed for better decision-making, according to Gen. Chauhan, as well as clear political guidance enabling the armed forces the freedom to plan operations.

When discussing Pakistan's use of satellite imagery, the former CDS pointed out the accessibility of commercial satellite imagery from Chinese companies, which Pakistan may have utilized for evaluating the impact of their strikes. Gen. Chauhan also doubted the accuracy of Pakistan's battlefield intelligence, particularly concerning maritime operations, noting that Pakistani briefings previously claimed an Indian carrier battle group was located in the Arabian Sea.

However, checks with the Western Naval Command revealed the Indian naval group was in fact 100 to 300 nautical miles away. Gen. Chauhan also attributed this to Pakistan's reliance on foreign sources, mentioning that its long-range maritime aircraft did not operate during the timeframe in question. He further elaborated on India's escalation strategy, emphasizing that the "last strike or the winning note" would always be executed by India.

Lastly, Gen. Chauhan addressed U.S. President Donald Trump's claims of mediating the India-Pakistan ceasefire, stating that the decision was made directly between the two Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) without any involvement from the U.S. President.