Former CDS Suggests Indian Munition May Have Unintentionally Hit Pakistan's Kirana Hills During 'Operation Sindoor'

During a recent 'VIMARSH' event hosted by the Vivekanand International Foundation, former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan addressed persistent speculation regarding India's 'Operation Sindoor' and a potential strike on Pakistan's Kirana Hills. General Chauhan clarified that while an Indian loitering munition might have indeed impacted Kirana Hills, a site associated with Pakistan's nuclear facilities, this was not a deliberate act. He explained that multiple loitering munitions were deployed around Sargodha, approximately 10 kilometers north of Kirana Hills, with the primary objective of locating radar systems. These munitions are designed to loiter for about two hours, and if they fail to detect an intended target within their operational lifespan, they eventually descend. Chauhan suggested that one such munition, having exhausted its search, "must have come and hit one of those hills." This explanation sheds light on Pakistani media reports from the time that showed images of smoke rising from Kirana Hills, which fueled earlier speculation. His remarks offer a significant clarification, emphasizing that while an impact may have occurred, it was a collateral outcome rather than a planned strike on a sensitive facility. The statements by General Chauhan also contrast with earlier denials from Air Marshal AK Bharti, who was Director General of Air Operations during Operation Sindoor, further highlighting the importance of this recent disclosure in understanding the complex dynamics of the operation.