Did India Strike Pakistan's Nuclear Facility at Kirana Hills? IAF Responds to Speculation

In the wake of India’s high-precision air strikes on May 7 as part of Operation Sindoor, rumors have surged across social media suggesting that one of the targets was Kirana Hills — a sensitive and fortified military zone widely believed to house elements of Pakistan’s nuclear program. However, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has issued a categorical denial.

 What Is Kirana Hills?

• Located in Pakistan's Sargodha district, Kirana Hills is a restricted military site believed to include underground tunnels and storage facilities linked to Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
• It lies 20 km from Sargodha Airbase and about 75 km from the Khushab nuclear complex — both considered central to Pakistan's strategic capabilities.

 IAF Denies Striking Kirana Hills

During a tri-services media briefing, Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, dismissed the viral claims with a touch of irony:

“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.”

This was a clear disavowal of any Indian military action targeting Pakistan’s nuclear infrastructure, which would have marked a dramatic and escalatory shift in policy.

What Was Actually Targeted?

As per the Indian Ministry of Defence:

• The IAF struck 11 military sites across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and mainland Pakistan using precision air-launched weapons.
• Key targets included:
  • Terror camps in PoK
  • Airbases and military installations at:
    • Rafiqui (Shorkot)
    • Murid (Punjab)
    • Nur Khan (Chaklala, near Rawalpindi)
    • Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Pasrur, and Sialkot

The strike on Nur Khan airbase was particularly significant as it is near the Strategic Plans Division HQ, which manages Pakistan's nuclear command — though no nuclear facility was struck, per Indian authorities.

Strategic Signals, Not Escalation

India’s targeting was deliberately calibrated to avoid civilian harm and steer clear of nuclear red lines, focusing solely on counter-terrorism and military objectives. The explicit denial regarding Kirana Hills further underlines India’s intent to avoid crossing into strategic deterrent zones.