Satellite Images Hint at Strike on Pakistan’s Nuclear-Linked Kirana Hills During India’s Operation Sindoor

New satellite imagery shared by a geo-intelligence expert suggests that Kirana Hills, a sensitive nuclear-linked facility in Pakistan, may have been struck during India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

Damien Symon, a well-known defence and satellite imagery analyst, posted two images on social media platform X. One appears to show munition impact scars and a damaged sentry post at Kirana Hills, with an inset image highlighting the visible strike marks. The second image, from Sargodha Airbase, located near Kirana Hills, indicates repair work at two sites on the runway—presumably where craters from strikes were observed.

Kirana Hills: A Sensitive Facility

Kirana Hills, which falls under Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence, is located near Sargodha city and stretches from the Rabwah township. The area has long been suspected of hosting nuclear storage infrastructure, with underground bunkers allegedly connected to the nearby Mushaf Airbase.

India Denies Targeting Nuclear Sites

Following the operation, Indian Air Force’s Director General of Air Operations, Air Marshal AK Bharti, was questioned in May about whether India had indeed struck Kirana Hills.

“Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installation. We did not know about it. And we have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there,” Air Marshal Bharti stated, dismissing claims of targeting nuclear-related infrastructure.

His remarks came amid growing speculation that India’s strikes on Mushaf Airbase may have indirectly impacted nuclear storage facilities in Kirana Hills.

Operation Sindoor: From Retaliation to Escalation

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, over two weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people. The initial wave of strikes targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The situation quickly escalated when Pakistan retaliated by targeting Indian Air Force bases in Udhampur, Pathankot, and Adampur. The confrontation ended with a ceasefire announced on May 10.

While India officially maintains it did not strike any nuclear-related sites, the satellite imagery has reignited debate about the true scope of Operation Sindoor—raising questions about both the precision and strategic messaging behind India’s cross-border response.