Did India hit Kirana Hills during Op Sindoor? Ex-CDS Anil Chauhan clears air - timesofindia.indiatimes.com

**India’s Operation Sindoor and the Kirana Hills Controversy**

India’s recent “Operation Sindoor,” launched in early June 2024, was presented by New Delhi as a limited retaliatory strike against Pakistan following a cross‑border attack that injured Indian soldiers in the contested Jammu‑Kashmir region. The operation employed a mix of precision‑guided munitions and loitering drones, targeting what India described as “terror‑support infrastructure” within Pakistan’s Punjab province. Soon after the strike, Pakistani officials and several media outlets alleged that one of the munitions had struck the Kirana Hills complex, a site long rumored to house a clandestine nuclear research and storage facility. The claim ignited a fresh round of diplomatic tension, with Pakistan demanding clarification and an international watchdog calling for an independent investigation.

In a series of interviews with *The Times of India*, *NDTV*, *Hindustan Times*, *Deccan Herald* and *ThePrint*, former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan addressed the controversy head‑on. Chauhan affirmed that the Indian Armed Forces did not intend to target the Kirana Hills installation. According to him, a loitering munition—deployed as part of the broader Sindoor campaign—experienced a fuel‑depletion issue while loitering over the strike zone. The weapon subsequently descended prematurely and impacted a peripheral area of the Kirana Hills complex, rather than a pre‑designated target. Chauhan emphasized that the incident was “inadvertent,” underscoring that the operational command had adhered to the original rules of engagement which excluded any nuclear‑related sites.

The clarification has drawn mixed reactions. Islamabad’s military spokesperson has called for a joint fact‑finding mission, insisting that even an unintended strike on a nuclear‑adjacent facility breaches international norms. New Delhi, while accepting the inadvertent nature of the impact, has reiterated that its strike objectives were strictly limited to non‑strategic, terrorist‑linked installations, and it remains committed to avoiding escalation. Analysts note that the episode underscores the hazards of using loitering munitions in densely contested terrain and may prompt both capitals to revisit safety protocols for future operations. Meanwhile, the international community watches closely as the two nuclear‑armed neighbours navigate a volatile episode that could have far‑reaching implications for regional stability.