‘Whole Of Pakistan Within Our Range…They Must Find Deep Hole': Top Indian Army Officer
The senior Indian Army officer said that even if Pakistan considers relocating its Army headquarters to areas like KPK, they will have to "find a deep hole."
A senior Indian Army officer on Monday underscored the nation's military readiness and arsenal strength, saying that India is capable of striking targets across the full depth of Pakistan.
Lieutenant General Ivan D'Cunha, Director General of Army Air Defence, also reacted to reports of Pakistan considering relocating its General Army Headquarters (GHQ) from Rawalpindi to Islamabad following the success of 'Operation Sindoor', saying that even if they move to areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), they will have to 'find a deep hole."
'I just like to say that India has an adequate arsenal of weapons to take on Pakistan right across its depth. So, from its broadest to its narrowest, wherever it is, the whole of Pakistan is within range. We are absolutely capable, from our borders or even in-depth, where we can take on the entire Pakistan," Lt Gen D'Cunha told news agency ANI.
'And the GHQ can move from Rawalpindi to KPK or wherever they want to move, but they are all within range, so they will have to really find a deep hole," he added.
In response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, India launched precision strikes under 'Operation Sindoor' and struck nine terror dens in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
After the Pakistan Army's response, India targeted key Pakistani airbases, including the Nur Khan Air Base, with precision, utilising loitering munitions to destroy targets.
Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D'Cunha further revealed that Pakistan deployed approximately 800–1000 drones along the western border over four days, but the Indian defence forces—through coordinated efforts by the Army, Navy, and Air Force—effectively neutralised the threat.
'I would say anything between 800 to 1000 across the whole western border in four days. A large number of them were destroyed. One thing for sure is that all the Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles [UCAV] which carried a payload, although they intended to harm our civilian population and they were directed towards population centres, we ensured that they did not cause any damage, and I think the proof of the pudding is actually in what we actually saw, that there were no civilian casualties" Lt Gen D'Cunha said.
D'Cunha noted that the Indian defence forces had anticipated Pakistan's drone tactics, using swarms of low-cost drones at low altitudes to bypass radar systems, and, in preparation, conducted simulation exercises from April 26 to 28, which enabled them to effectively counter the attacks.
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First Published:
May 20, 2025, 08:02 IST
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