Bombs, bases & nuclear rumours: What happened at Kirana Hills?

Sargodha in Pakistan, is home to the strategic Kirana Hills which houses key military installations. Following the Indian Air Force’s Operation Sindoor — a response to Pahalgam terror attacks — questions have been raised about the safety of this region.

The Indian Air Force targeted multiple strategic locations in Pakistan including Mushaf Airbase in Sargodha and Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi. The Indian Armed Forces have claimed to have inflicted significant damage to Pakistan’s military assets.

However, social media claims have gone further, alleging that the Indian Air Force may have struck nuclear facilities at Kirana Hills, potentially causing a nuclear leak.

Kirana Hills is a fortified military zone with a history of nuclear testing. It includes underground tunnels, designed for storage and missile operations, and forms part of Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent infrastructure. Due to its sensitive nature, any suggestion of an attack on Kirana Hills has raised concern.

Despite the speculation, no official confirmation supports claims of a strike on nuclear sites. Satellite imagery and public statements from both Indian and international sources do not indicate any such development.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other monitoring agencies have not detected any radiation leak or nuclear incident in the region.

The United States was asked if a team had been sent to Islamabad in response to alleged radiation leaks, to which the official response was, “We have nothing to preview on that at this time.” Air Vice Marshal AK Bharti of the Indian Air Force also stated that Kirana Hills was not targeted during Operation Sindoor. Open-source intelligence analyst Sunny Mehra further confirmed that observed explosions occurred in uninhabited areas, not within the fortified nuclear infrastructure.

In conclusion, there is no verified evidence that India targeted Pakistan’s nuclear sites or that any nuclear leak occurred. Sargodha, including Kirana Hills, does not currently face a nuclear threat. The reports circulating online appear to be speculative and are not supported by available intelligence or monitoring data.