'Once Pakistanis Picked Up the Phone': Former CDS Anil Chauhan's 5 Big Revelations on Operation Sindoor

Former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has revealed several details about the planning and execution of Operation Sindoor, including what happened after Pakistan sought talks on May 10, 2025, how India selected additional targets and what he said about the reported strike near Kirana Hills. Chauhan, who was serving as CDS during the India-Pakistan military confrontation, shared the details while discussing the operation and the lessons it offered for modern warfare.

He said Pakistan contacted India at around 10 am on May 10 seeking discussions, at a time when Indian forces were still preparing for further military action. According to Chauhan, the Indian Air Force was subsequently cleared to strike Sargodha. The former CDS said Indian planners were also considering additional targets. Skardu was among the locations identified, but poor weather prevented the planned action. Bholari was considered as an alternative target.

Chauhan also spoke about Kirana Hills, an area near Sargodha that has been linked to Pakistan’s strategic infrastructure. He said the location was not deliberately selected as a target. Indian loitering munitions had reportedly been deployed in the Sargodha area to search for Pakistani radar systems. According to Chauhan, one munition apparently failed to locate its intended target and eventually hit a hill in the area. His comments provide context to earlier speculation over whether India had intentionally targeted Pakistan’s nuclear-related facilities during the operation.

Another aspect highlighted by Chauhan was India’s approach to managing escalation. He said the military had prepared an escalation matrix covering different stages of a possible conflict. The objective was to ensure that India retained the ability to respond effectively while maintaining control over how far the confrontation could expand.

Chauhan also pointed to the role of unmanned systems and lower-altitude operations. Drones and loitering munitions allowed Indian forces to operate in a way that, according to him, helped maintain an element of surprise while keeping escalation risks comparatively lower. The former CDS further stressed the importance of information sharing between the armed forces. He said the Army, Navy and Air Force operated with a common operational picture, allowing commanders to assess developments across different domains rather than relying on isolated information.

Chauhan also questioned Pakistan’s assessment of Indian naval deployments during the conflict. He said Pakistani information about the location of an Indian carrier battle group did not match India’s own assessment of where the formation was positioned. The former CDS's remarks come amid continued debate over how the May 10 ceasefire was reached. Chauhan has maintained that the understanding was reached through direct communication between the Indian and Pakistani Directors General of Military Operations. He has rejected suggestions that the ceasefire was negotiated by a third party.

Operation Sindoor was launched by India on May 7, 2025, following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. The initial Indian strikes targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The confrontation subsequently widened before the two sides reached an understanding to halt military action on May 10.

Chauhan’s account highlights how the operation involved a combination of intelligence, precision weapons, unmanned systems and coordination between India’s three armed services. It also shows how rapidly military plans can change because of factors such as weather, battlefield information and the risk of further escalation.