Former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has revealed fresh details about India’s target planning during Operation Sindoor, including why the Indian Air Force did not strike Pakistan’s Skardu airbase and what may have happened at Kirana Hills.
According to Chauhan, the IAF had received approval to target Skardu, located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, after Sargodha was identified for a possible strike. However, deteriorating weather conditions over Skardu forced the military to change the plan. The target was subsequently shifted to Bholari.
The Bholari operation later became one of the most visible episodes of the May 10 air campaign. Satellite imagery showed significant damage to a hangar at the airbase, including a large breach in its roof and debris around the structure.
Chauhan also addressed the long-running questions surrounding Kirana Hills, an area associated with Pakistan’s nuclear infrastructure. He clarified that India did not deliberately target the site.
He explained that Indian loitering munitions had been sent toward the Sargodha area to search for Pakistani radar installations. Kirana Hills is located roughly 10 kilometres north of Sargodha. According to Chauhan, one of the munitions may have failed to locate its intended target and, after remaining airborne for its operational period, ended up striking one of the hills.
The explanation sheds new light on reports of smoke and activity around Kirana Hills during the operation. Chauhan stressed that the incident should not be interpreted as a deliberate Indian attack on Pakistan’s nuclear facilities.
His remarks also provide a clearer picture of how rapidly military plans changed during the conflict. While Skardu was initially approved as a target, weather conditions meant that the operation had to be redirected to Bholari.
Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025, involved a series of Indian military actions following the Pahalgam terror attack. Chauhan’s latest comments offer additional insight into the decision-making and operational challenges faced during the campaign, while clarifying two previously disputed aspects of the operation: the abandoned Skardu plan and the incident at Kirana Hills.
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