NEW DELHI: India has the capability to strike deep into Pakistani territory, including any location from Rawalpindi to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D’Cunha, Director General of Army Air Defence. Speaking about Operation Sindoor, he affirmed that the Indian armed forces are fully prepared to respond across the entire breadth and depth of Pakistan if provoked.
In an interview with ANI, Lt Gen D’Cunha said, “The whole of Pakistan is within range. Even if the Pakistan Army relocates its General Headquarters (GHQ) from Rawalpindi to KPK, they’ll still be within striking distance — they’ll need to find a very deep hole.”
He emphasized that India’s arsenal includes a range of indigenous technologies such as long-range drones and guided munitions, which were effectively used during Operation Sindoor. “We are fully capable of responding from our borders or even deeper within, across all of Pakistan,” he asserted.
Lt Gen D’Cunha said the armed forces’ primary responsibility is safeguarding India’s sovereignty and protecting its people. “We’ve reassured not just our civil population, but also our soldiers and their families, many of whom live in cantonments that were potential targets. Preventing any casualties has reinforced national confidence.”
Highlighting India’s preparedness for modern warfare, he pointed to the increasing role of drones. Drawing lessons from conflicts like Russia-Ukraine and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, he said India had anticipated Pakistan’s use of drone swarms—potentially backed by Turkey and other allies—to overwhelm Indian air defences.
“In late April, we conducted simulation exercises anticipating such drone tactics, preparing our troops for saturation attacks aimed at radars and weapons systems,” he said.
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 in retaliation for a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The Indian offensive targeted nine terror-related sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Following India’s airstrikes, Pakistan retaliated with shelling across the Line of Control and attempted drone incursions. India escalated its response, striking critical Pakistani military infrastructure, including the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi and the Rahim Yar Khan Airbase.
Both nations reached an understanding to de-escalate and cease hostilities on May 10.
