The Indian Air Force’s latest video showcasing its might during Operation Sindoor has rekindled buzz over whether strikes were also conducted at Kirana Hills, located close to the nuclear infrastructure in Pakistan. The video, containing multiple shots of sites in the neighbouring nation destroyed by the strikes, was posted by the IAF on the occasion of Republic Day. It carried shots of important airbases in Pakistan being hit, which were closely located to the country’s nuclear storage sites.
India dismissed claims of targeting Kirana Hills. However, the rebuttal by Director General of India’s Air Operations, Air Marshal AK Bharti, came with a smirk. During a press briefing in May last year, days after Operation Sindoor, he was asked directly if the speculations were true. “Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installations. We did not know about it,” he said with a smirk, adding, “We have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there.”
The light-hearted moment had fuelled buzz that the strikes may have hit Kirana Hills.
Defence sources indicated that the IAF continues to maintain their stance even after the latest video, India Today has learnt. Officials have also not provided fresh clarifications, and thus speculations remain around the claim.
India carried out precision strikes as part of Operation Sindoor on May 7, hitting nine terrorist camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). It was in response to the April 22 massacre in Kashmir’s Pahalgam wherein Pakistan-sponsored terrorists gunned down 26 civilians, primarily tourists.
Pakistan retaliated by launching a barrage of drones, missiles and mortal shells at Indian military and civilian regions. After that, India hit vital airbases in the neighbouring country, including Nur Khan base that is in close proximity to their Strategic Plans Division headquarters, the body overseeing Islamabad’s nuclear arsenal.
Furthermore, satellite imagery implied strikes on Mushaf airbase in Sargodha, reportedly linked to underground nuclear storage locations beneath the Kirana Hills. Kirana Hills is only 20 km by road from Sargodha and 75 km from the Kushab nuclear plant.
The strikes were a massive power message to Islamabad from New Delhi, saying India is more than capable of hitting important sites of its neighbour, even deep inside the country.
– Ends
Published On:
Jan 29, 2026
