Operation Sindoor: CDS Chauhan explains India's decision to launch airstrikes on Pak terror camps

CDS Gen Anil Chahuan

While attending an event in Gorakhpur, CDS Gen Anil Chauhan, on Friday, explained how India decided to launch air strikes on Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack.

"India and Pakistan both learned lessons after Balakot. India focused on long-range precision strikes, and Pakistan likely focused on air defence. During the surgical strikes after the Uri terror attack, we entered Pakistan by land and destroyed terrorist camps," he said.

"After Pulwama, we opted for airstrikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. When the Pahalgam terror attack happened, we had already enhanced our precision strike capabilities. We tried to use lower airspace to maintain surprise and control escalation. But when we discussed with political leadership, we concluded that using drones and loitering munitions alone would not achieve our political objectives," CDS Chauhan further said.

He also spoke about India's "clear message" behind the decision to launch the air strikes. "To destroy Bahawalpur and Muridke, airstrikes were necessary. Political backing and discretion were essential. During Operation Sindoor, we had both, with a clear message: destroy the terrorist camps, but only retaliate if our forces were attacked," he said.

The CDS also went on to talk about the nuances of politics and war. "In Prussia, now Germany, a famous political scientist said that war is an extension of politics. War and geopolitics cannot be seen in isolation," he said.

"War is a medium to achieve political ambitions. In a democracy, the military works under political leadership. When a government believes that force is needed to protect its political or national interests, a military officer like me has two duties: to provide more options to the government for using forces, and to build the government’s confidence in the military so it can take bigger decisions. You are all aware of the Galwan and Balakot airstrikes-after these, the government allowed the military to have emergency procurement," he said.

As part of Operation Sindoor, India launched missiles targeting terror camps in Pakistan on the intervening night of May 6 and 7, days after terrorists gunned down 26 people in the Kashmir Valley's Pahalgam on April 7, after confirming their religious identities.