'Best time would've been 6 am': CDS Chauhan reveals why India conducted strikes at 1 am under Operation Sindoor

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Thursday revealed why armed forces decided to carry out Operation Sindoor strikes in Pakistan and Pak-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) at midnight.

On May 7, India carried out precision airstrikes and struck at least nine terror strongholds in Pakistan and PoK, in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were gunned down by Lashkar-linked terrorists.

On striking at midnight rather than at around 6 am, CDS Chauhan said, “Why did we strike at 1:30 at night? That is the darkest time, it would be the most difficult to get satellite images, photographs, and collect evidence. Yet, we struck at 1 or 1:30 at night."

#WATCH | Ranchi, Jharkhand: CDS Gen Anil Chauhan says, "... On the 7th (of May), the terrorist targets we had chosen, we struck them between 1:00 and 1:30 at night… Why did we strike at 1:30 at night? That is the darkest time, it would be the most difficult to get satellite… pic.twitter.com/Rxtuubk8Kg

— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2025

While speaking at an event in Ranchi, he stated that the decision to conduct airstrikes under the cover of night was driven by two main reasons. “First, we had confidence in our capabilities that even at night we would be able to get imagery. And the second important reason was that we wanted to avoid civilian casualties," he said.

The Chief of Defence Staff said the best time to strike Pakistan would have been 5.30 am to 6 am, but there would have been a lot of civilian movement due to morning prayers. “At that time, the first Azaan or the first prayer takes place, and in Bahawalpur and Muridke, there might be a lot of civilian movement at that time, so many civilians could have been killed… We wanted to avoid that, which is why we chose the time between 1:00 and 1:30 am," he revealed.

The military chief was speaking to school students in Jharkhand's Ranchi, where he lauded the military for its military and civilian missions.

Operation Sindoor 'still on'

General Anil Chauhan, while speaking last month at ‘Ran Samvad’ conclave, said Operation Sindoor “is still on”. In a veiled warning to Pakistan, he said India has always stood on the side of peace, but added that it shouldn't be mistaken.

He also reiterated that Operation Sindoor is continuing and that the armed forces' preparedness level "has to be very high".

(With inputs from agencies)