Former CDS General Anil Chauhan says an Indian loitering munition accidentally struck Pakistan’s Kirana Hills during Operation Sindoor after running low on fuel while searching for radar targets near Sargodha.
Former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has revealed that an Indian loitering munition accidentally struck Pakistan’s Kirana Hills during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. According to Chauhan, the drone was not deliberately targeting the strategically sensitive area but had been deployed to search for Pakistani radar installations around Sargodha.
Drone Was Searching For Radar Targets
Speaking at an event in New Delhi, General Chauhan explained that India had deployed several loitering munitions around Sargodha and the Kirana Hills region during the military operation. Their task was to locate and engage radar systems.
One of the munitions reportedly remained airborne while searching for a suitable target. When it failed to identify the intended radar and subsequently ran low on fuel, it eventually struck the Kirana Hills area. Chauhan indicated that the weapon was likely an Israeli-designed Harop loitering munition.
Kirana Hills is located roughly 10 kilometres north of Sargodha and has long been associated with Pakistan's strategic and military infrastructure.
Strike Was Not Deliberate
Chauhan's comments make an important distinction between an accidental impact and a planned attack on Kirana Hills.
The former CDS said the Indian military had been targeting radar installations in the broader Sargodha area, but Kirana Hills itself was not selected as the target. The drone apparently reached the area after exhausting its available flight time or fuel.
The revelation provides a new explanation for reports and satellite imagery that had previously fuelled speculation about possible damage at the strategically important location.
What Happened During Operation Sindoor?
Operation Sindoor was launched by India in May 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack. During the subsequent military confrontation, India carried out strikes against targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, while both sides conducted missile, drone and air operations.
The Kirana Hills incident had remained a subject of discussion because of the area's reported links to Pakistan's strategic infrastructure. In 2025, Indian military officials had publicly rejected claims that India had deliberately attacked Kirana Hills. Chauhan's latest explanation provides additional context while maintaining that the location was not an intended target.
Ex-CDS Anil Chauhan's Revelation
The revelation is significant because it comes from General Anil Chauhan, who served as India's Chief of Defence Staff during Operation Sindoor. His account indicates that the impact was an unintended consequence of a loitering munition operating in the vicinity while searching for military targets.
The comments also highlight the role of loitering munitions and drones in modern warfare, where weapons can remain airborne while searching for targets before striking.
