Air Marshal AK Bharti dismisses social media claims about targeting Pakistan’s nuclear site; confirms precision strikes focused solely on terror infrastructure.
New Delhi, May 12:
Amid rising speculation that India targeted Pakistan’s nuclear facility at Kirana Hills during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force on Monday categorically denied any such strike.
At a press conference, Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, responded to a journalist’s question about a supposed strike on Kirana Hills in Sargodha district, a site long speculated to house underground nuclear storage.
“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,” he said wryly.
His remarks came amid social media chatter alleging that India had struck the Mushaf Airbase using loitering and penetrating munitions, indirectly affecting underground nuclear sites.
The Kirana Hills, also known locally as the “Black Mountains,” are under the jurisdiction of Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence and have historically been linked to nuclear testing and storage.
India’s Precision Response: Terror Camps, Not Strategic Infrastructure
Air Marshal Bharti reaffirmed that Operation Sindoor, conducted on May 7, was a calibrated counter-terror operation aimed strictly at nine terror hideouts—four in Pakistan and five in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Targets included:
- Jaish-e-Mohammed facilities at Markaz Subhan Allah (Bahawalpur), Sarjal (Tehra Kalan), Markaz Abbas (Kotli), and Syedna Bilal camp (Muzaffarabad).
- Lashkar-e-Taiba bases at Markaz Taiba (Murdike), Markaz Ahle Hadith (Barnala), and Shwawai Nalla (Muzaffarabad).
- Hizbul Mujahideen sites at Makaz Raheel Shahid (Kotli) and Mehmoona Joya (Sialkot).
The strikes were in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, including a Nepali tourist. Indian intelligence linked the attack to Pakistan-based groups.
India’s retaliatory operation reportedly crippled Pakistani military infrastructure, including airfields and radar sites, after Pakistan attempted to target 26 Indian military locations in Punjab, J&K, and Gujarat with drones and missiles on May 9–10.
Indigenous Defence Systems on Display
Air Marshal Bharti praised the performance of India’s indigenous air defence systems, particularly the Akash missile system, which helped neutralize aerial threats during Pakistan’s attempted retaliation.
“All our military bases and systems continue to remain fully operational and ready to undertake any mission,” he assured.
Ceasefire In Effect, But Vigilance Remains
On Saturday, India and Pakistan agreed to a bilateral ceasefire, halting all offensive operations across land, air, and sea. The ceasefire followed US-brokered talks, with President Donald Trump confirming a “full and immediate cessation of hostilities.”
Indian military commanders remain in contact with international counterparts to manage escalation risks, as tensions continue to simmer in the region.
Tags:
Operation Sindoor, Kirana Hills, Indian Air Force, AK Bharti, Mushaf Airbase, nuclear facility, Sargodha, Pahalgam attack, Pakistan, India-Pakistan ceasefire, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, OperationSindoor,