1 week ago
Ex-chief says munition may have struck Pakistan nuclear site
India carried out Operation Sindoor after an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people.
A former senior Indian military official has now said one weapon may have reached Kirana Hills in Pakistan.
Kirana Hills is reported to have a nuclear installation.
He said India was looking for radars near Sargodha, not trying to attack a nuclear site.
The weapons could fly for about two hours.
If they did not find a target, they could come down somewhere else.
Another senior officer had earlier said Kirana Hills was not hit.
India and Pakistan agreed to stop firing on May 10, 2025.
Former Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan said a loitering munition may have struck Pakistan’s Kirana Hills during Operation Sindoor.
Chauhan said India sent munitions toward Sargodha to search for radars, not to deliberately target a nuclear installation.
He said the munitions could fly for about two hours before descending elsewhere if they found no target.
Pakistan’s Kirana Hills is about 10 kilometres north of Sargodha and is reported to house a nuclear installation.
Air Marshal A.K. Bharti previously rejected claims that Indian forces had targeted or hit Kirana Hills.
- Who
- Former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan discussed the possible strike; Air Marshal A.K. Bharti had earlier denied that Kirana Hills was hit.
- What
- A loitering munition fired during Operation Sindoor may have struck Kirana Hills, although it was not an intended target.
- Where
- Kirana Hills, about 10 kilometres north of Sargodha in Pakistan.
- When
- The remarks were made on Tuesday; Operation Sindoor took place in May 2025, and firing was halted under an understanding on May 10, 2025.
- Why
- India said Operation Sindoor was conducted against terrorist camps after the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people.
Possible impact
Official denial
Whether Kirana Hills was hit
Possible impact
Anil Chauhan said a loitering munition may have struck Kirana Hills after failing to find its intended target near Sargodha.
Official denial
Air Marshal A.K. Bharti previously said Indian forces had not hit Kirana Hills.
Whether the site was deliberately targeted
Possible impact
Chauhan said the possible impact did not mean India intended to target a nuclear installation.
Official denial
Bharti said Kirana Hills was not an intended target and rejected claims that it had been targeted.
Key facts
- Operation
- Operation Sindoor
- Possible location
- Kirana Hills, about 10 kilometres north of Sargodha
- Reported facility
- Kirana Hills is reported to have a nuclear installation
- Intended search area
- Indian munitions were sent toward Sargodha to search for radars
- Munition endurance
- About two hours
- Pahalgam attack
- The April 22, 2025, attack killed 26 people
- Ceasefire understanding
- India and Pakistan reached an understanding to halt firing on May 10, 2025
Quotes
Air Marshal AK Bharti
Former director general of air operations who denied that Indian forces targeted Kirana Hills.
“Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installation. We did not know about it. We have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there.”
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“Kirana Hills is about 10 kilometres north of Sargodha”
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Sources
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