New Delhi, August 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan’s clarification that India did not deliberately target Pakistan’s Kirana Hills during Operation Sindoor has triggered renewed discussion over the incident and its strategic implications.
Major General Dhruv C Katoch (Retd.), former diplomat KP Fabian and foreign affairs expert Waiel Awwad have offered differing perspectives on the remarks, which followed reports of a possible strike near the sensitive site associated with Pakistan’s nuclear facilities.
General Chauhan said India had not intentionally targeted the Kirana Hills. According to him, a loitering munition searching for radars near Sargodha may have inadvertently struck one of the hills after exhausting its operational time.
Katoch said the former CDS’s remarks reinforced India’s position that there was no intention to strike the site. He recalled that Air Marshal Bharti had made a similar point during a post-strike briefing following the May 10 developments.
“Regardless of the fact whether India intended to or did not intend to hit at the Kirana Hills, Kirana Hills was hit. And it was hit very, very accurately,” Katoch said.
He also suggested that the incident may have influenced the subsequent involvement of the United States, saying Washington became more active after the development.
Fabian said the statements of Chauhan and Air Marshal Bharti should be considered together. He explained that, according to the Indian account, the loitering munition failed to locate its intended target near Sargodha and, after running low on energy, moved towards the Kirana Hills.
Fabian said Pakistan could have interpreted the movement as an intentional attempt to strike a sensitive nuclear-linked location. He suggested that the episode may have contributed to Pakistan seeking a ceasefire, while noting that the Indian side had not explicitly drawn that conclusion.
Awwad placed the episode within the broader context of India-Pakistan tensions and Operation Sindoor. He said Pakistan had been seeking to stabilise relations through back-channel communications while India remained focused on maintaining deterrence.
“India is determined that there be no question of Pakistan using its territory for any terrorist group to act against India,” Awwad said.
The remarks have renewed debate over the distinction between military intent and the impact of an incident near a sensitive strategic site, as well as its possible diplomatic and security consequences during Operation Sindoor.
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