Ex-CDS Anil Chauhan says Kirana Hills hit accidental during Operation Sindoor

Former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said on Tuesday that India did not deliberately target Pakistan's Kirana Hills nuclear facility during Operation Sindoor last year. Speaking at an event in New Delhi, Chauhan said loitering munitions were sent towards Sargodha, about 10 km south of Kirana Hills, to target radars. He explained that the munitions have a two-hour operational life and strike somewhere if they do not find a target. "It must have come and hit one of those hills," he said, as quoted by ANI. The Indian Air Force had previously denied targeting the facility.

Chauhan's remarks address speculation that arose after Pakistani media showed smoke rising from Kirana Hills during the operation. India launched Operation Sindoor in May 2025 after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. The tri-services operation targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK, with the government saying more than 100 terrorists were killed. Following the operation, the Pakistani army reached out to its Indian counterpart, leading to a ceasefire understanding.