Did India Strike Pakistan’s Nuclear Facility at Kirana Hills? Unpacking the Facts

Introduction

Recent social media speculation has suggested that India targeted Pakistan’s nuclear facility at Kirana Hills during Operation Sindoor. These rumors have been fueled by reports of seismic activity in Pakistan and unverified claims of foreign military aircraft involvement. This article aims to clarify the facts surrounding these claims and provide a comprehensive overview of the events.

Kirana Hills is a fortified defense area located in Pakistan’s Punjab province, near the city of Sargodha. It is believed to house part of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal within reinforced underground tunnels. The area is under the jurisdiction of Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence and is considered a highly sensitive military zone.

Speculation about an Indian strike on Kirana Hills emerged following India’s Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Social media buzz linked recent earthquakes in Pakistan to a supposed Indian attack on the nuclear facility. Unverified reports of U.S. and Egyptian military aircraft spotted on flight radar apps further fueled these rumors.

India’s Official Response

During a tri-services press briefing, Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of India’s Air Operations, addressed the speculation with a touch of sarcasm: “Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installations. We did not know about it. We have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there.” He emphasized that India’s military actions targeted terrorist infrastructure and not Pakistan’s military or nuclear facilities.

Operation Sindoor: The Actual Targets

Operation Sindoor was a series of precision strikes conducted by the Indian Armed Forces targeting terrorist camps and infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation was a response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. Key targets included:

• Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur
• Sarjal in Tehra Kalan
• Markaz Abbas in Kotli
• Syedna Bilal Camp in Muzaffarabad
• Markaz Taiba in Murdike
• Markaz Ahle Hadith in Barnala
• Shwawai Nalla Camp in Muzaffarabad
• Makaz Raheel Shahid in Kotli
• Mehmoona Joya in Sialkot

These sites were associated with banned terrorist organizations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

The Strategic Significance of Kirana Hills

While Kirana Hills is believed to be a storage facility for Pakistan’s nuclear warheads, there is no concrete evidence to suggest that it was targeted during Operation Sindoor. The Indian Armed Forces have maintained that their operations were focused solely on dismantling terrorist infrastructure and did not involve strikes on Pakistan’s military or nuclear facilities.

Conclusion

The rumors suggesting that India targeted Pakistan’s nuclear facility at Kirana Hills during Operation Sindoor are unfounded. Official statements from the Indian Armed Forces have categorically denied any such action. Operation Sindoor was a targeted response to terrorist activities, aiming to dismantle terror infrastructure without escalating into a broader military conflict.

Note: This article is based on information available as of May 12, 2025. For the most recent updates, please refer to official statements from the Indian Armed Forces and credible news sources.