Former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan revealed that India continued military strikes during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, even after Pakistan initiated contact for peace talks. The disclosure offers insight into India's strategic decision-making aimed at maintaining the initiative before engaging in diplomatic dialogue. The account also clarified operational details regarding strikes near Kirana Hills.
Former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan provided fresh insights into India’s strategic operations during a speech at the VIMARSH event on August 25, 2026. General Chauhan, who served as the Chief of Defence Staff until his retirement in May 2026, recounted specific decision-making processes during Operation Sindoor, which took place in May 2025 following a terror attack in Pahalgam.
Strategic Offensive Posture
General Chauhan revealed that India maintained its offensive tempo even while diplomatic channels were being explored. He noted that shortly after 10:00 AM on May 10, 2025, Pakistan initiated contact to discuss peace talks. Despite this diplomatic outreach, the Indian military leadership decided to proceed with planned strikes to ensure a decisive outcome and prevent Pakistan from dictating the end of the conflict. Upon receiving the call, General Chauhan authorized the Air Chief to proceed with targeting Pakistani military installations, specifically naming Sargodha, and directed the identification of further targets such as Skardu.
This decision highlights a shift in India's strategic approach, focusing on escalation control and the retention of the initiative. By continuing operations despite the request for dialogue, India aimed to ensure that the conflict concluded on its terms rather than allowing an opponent to deliver a final, retaliatory strike.
Operational Tactics and the Third Option
According to General Chauhan, Operation Sindoor utilized what he described as a "third option" to address security threats. Unlike the land-based responses seen after the Uri attack or the air packages used after the Pulwama incident, this strategy involved exploiting lower airspace. By using drones and helicopters, the armed forces aimed to keep the conflict threshold low while maximizing the element of surprise and operational success. This approach was designed to facilitate high precision and minimize the risk of broader escalation.
Clarification on Kirana Hills
General Chauhan also addressed speculative reports regarding strikes near Kirana Hills, an area historically associated with Pakistan's nuclear infrastructure. He clarified that any impact in the vicinity of Kirana Hills was unintentional. The incident occurred due to loitering munitions that had been deployed to scout for radar installations near Sargodha. These munitions, designed to stay airborne for approximately two hours, ran out of fuel before they could be recovered or redirected, leading to an impact near the hills. He emphasized that this was a result of radar-seeking operations rather than a deliberate targeting of nuclear facilities.
Integration and Command
Attributing the success of the operation to internal synergy, General Chauhan highlighted the importance of battlefield transparency and seamless communication between the Army, Navy, and Air Force. He credited the unified operational picture for enabling faster decision-making. Furthermore, he noted that the services focused on addressing capability gaps internally rather than presenting them to political leadership, which allowed the government to provide the clear political direction necessary for the armed forces to execute their plans effectively.