Amid the fallout of India’s powerful retaliatory strikes on Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, one name unexpectedly emerged in online chatter—Kirana Hills. Social media buzz suggested that this elusive location, believed to be a Pakistani nuclear storage facility, had been among the Indian Air Force’s targets. But the IAF has flatly denied these claims.
Where is Kirana Hills Located?
Kirana Hills is a rugged mountain range located in Pakistan’s Sargodha district, between the town of Rabwah and the city of Sargodha. Part of the broader Mushaf Air Force Base region, this area has long been shrouded in secrecy and speculation. Often dubbed the “Black Mountains” due to their dark terrain, the hills are under the jurisdiction of Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence.
According to independent sources like the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Kirana Hills was used for subcritical nuclear tests between 1983 and 1990, playing a critical role in the early development of Pakistan’s nuclear programme. The area reportedly contains over 10 underground tunnels, munitions storage areas, and TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher) garages—fueling speculation that it may still house elements of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
Why the Controversy?
After India’s May 7 strikes on Pakistani military installations—destroying airbases and killing over 100 terrorists—speculation surged that one of the targets was Kirana Hills, due to its proximity to Mushaf Air Base (which was hit). Online reports even suggested that India used penetrating munitions aimed at possible underground nuclear storage.
However, at a press briefing on May 12, Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, dismissed these rumors. When asked directly, he stated:
“We have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there. I did not mention it in my briefing yesterday.”
His somewhat tongue-in-cheek tone—“Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installation. We did not know about it”—only added more intrigue.