NEW DELHI: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Anil Chauhan explained why India chose to go beyond drones and loitering munitions during Operation Sindoor, saying lethal action against Pakistan-bred terrorists required air power.CDS Chauhan said precision strikes had been carried out against terrorists holed up in Pakistan even after the attacks in Uri and Pulwama, and therefore, India already had “enhanced precision strike capabilities”.

He said it was decided that destroying terrorist camps in Bahawalpur and Muridke required air power, as this would help achieve the political objective — possibly a reference to reaffirming India’s stand of zero tolerance against terrorism.Speaking at an event in Gorakhpur, CDS Chauhan said: India and Pakistan learned different lessons after the Balakot operation. India focused on long-range precision strike weapons and post-strike damage assessment, and Pakistan might have focused on its air defence…During the surgical strikes after the 2016 Uri terror attack, the Indian Army entered Pakistan by land and destroyed the terrorist camps. We conducted airstrikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region after Pulwama attack.” He further said: “After the Pahalgam terror attack happened, we already had enhanced precision strike capabilities. When we discussed with the political leadership, it was decided that by only using drones and loitering munitions, we will not be able to achieve the political objectives. To destroy terrorist camps in Bahawalpur and Muridke , it was necessary to use air power”.CDS Chuahan said that political leadership “gave a clear direction with a clear message to destroy the terrorist camps, and retaliate only if we are attacked”. “During Operation Sindoor, the political leadership provided a clear direction with a clear message to destroy the terrorist camps, and retaliate only if we are attacked. During Operation Sindoor, we were given full operational freedom, including planning and selection of targets,” the CDS was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.On May 7, India retaliated for a Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.Indian forces, acting against crossborder terrorism, destroyed multiple terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Pakistan, including the hotbeds like Bahalwalpur and Muridke. As the tension escalated, the Indian forces stepped up the retaliation — bombing the Rahim Yar Khan Pakistani Air Force (PAF) base in Pakistan’s southern Punjab region and Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi.