India did not target Kirana Hills nuclear facility: former defence chief

Retired General Anil Chauhan has clarified that India did not strike Pakistan's Kirana Hills or any nuclear installation during Operation Sindoor, contradicting earlier speculation about the scope of the aerial engagement. The former Chief of Defence Staff stated that an Indian drone mission in the Sargodha sector failed to locate its designated target and subsequently collided with the hilly terrain in the region. According to Chauhan, the smoke that emerged from the hills following the incident was a direct result of the drone's impact with the landscape rather than a deliberate strike on military or nuclear infrastructure. The operation, conducted in response to the Pulwama terror attack in February 2019, had generated considerable debate about the extent and nature of Indian military action across the border. Chauhan's statement provides an official account that distinguishes between unintended collateral effects and targeted strikes, clarifying the technical circumstances surrounding the drone's final moments. His remarks help address long-standing questions about what actually transpired during the cross-border operation and the origin of the visible debris and smoke from the Kirana Hills area.