One of loitering munitions might have landed on Pakistan’s Kirana hills: Former CDS

Former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan (retd) stated on Tuesday that a loitering munition fired by India into Pakistan's Sargodha and Kirana hills may have struck one of those hills during Operation Sindoor. Speaking at an event hosted by the Vivekananda International Foundation, General Chauhan clarified that the Indian military targeted radars in the Sargodha area, and not the nuclear facilities in the Kirana Hills.

The loitering munition has a limited lifespan, typically hovering for around two hours before descending and striking a random location. He also pointed out that Pakistan's media had shown smoke emanating from the Kirana Hills after the strikes, which likely fueled speculation about the incident. The US President's claim that he mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan was also addressed by General Chauhan, who emphasized that the decision was made between the two Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) and that no external influence was involved.

Regarding Pakistan's limited understanding of the operation's scope, General Chauhan pointed out that their daily briefings often provided incorrect information about the positioning of the US carrier battle group in the Arabian Sea. Additionally, he highlighted that China played a significant role in the operation, with around 70% to 80% of the platforms being of Chinese origin.