Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force has categorically denied social media rumours suggesting that India targeted Pakistan’s alleged nuclear facility at Kirana Hills during Operation Sindoor, a precision air strike campaign launched in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
IAF dismisses ‘Kirana Hills strike’ claims
Responding to intense speculation online, Air Marshal AK Bharti clarified during a joint military press briefing on Monday:
“We have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there.”
He added sarcastically,
“Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installation — we did not know about it.”
The press conference was attended by Lt Gen Rajeev Ghai (Army), Vice Admiral A N Pramod (Navy), and Air Marshal Bharti, where they showcased visual evidence of Pakistani military facility damage sustained during Operation Sindoor.
Conspiracies escalate after Sargodha strike
The rumours intensified after India confirmed targeting Sargodha, an area near Kirana Hills, which reportedly hosts key air and military infrastructure. The coinciding earthquakes in Pakistan, sightings of US and Egyptian aircraft on radar, and the ceasefire declaration only added fuel to conspiracy theories of a strike on nuclear assets.
According to the New York Times, a former US official noted that Pakistan’s deepest fear is losing control over its nuclear command, suggesting that the Indian missile strike on Nur Khan airbase might have signalled India’s capability to target sensitive locations.
Visual proof of precision strikes
The Indian Armed Forces presented video footage confirming substantial damage to multiple Pakistani installations. These included:
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Air defence radars at Pasrur, Chunian, Arifwala
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Airfields at Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Chaklala (Nur Khan), Sukkur, Jacobabad, and Bholari
Air Marshal Bharti also revealed the interception of a Chinese-made PL-15 missile, along with recovered debris from loitering munitions, long-range rockets, and various UAS systems used by Pakistan. He emphasized:
“Pakistani military chose to back the terrorists. Whatever loss they suffered, it’s their responsibility.”
Target: Terrorism, not Pakistani state forces
India reiterated that the operation, launched on May 7, was aimed strictly at terror infrastructure and support systemsin Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 civilian lives. The military leadership clarified that no Pakistani nuclear sites were targeted.
