As tensions flare between India and Pakistan following the Indian armed forces' cross-border strikes under Operation Sindoor, social media was abuzz with chatter of a blast reported at Kirana Hills.
Though the Indian Air Force (IAF), during a press briefing on May 12, officially denied any strike on this location, its mention has reignited interest in this little-known but reportedly critical site within Pakistan.
So, what exactly are the Kirana Hills? Why do they matter in the India-Pakistan conflict? The Free Press Journal explains:
What Are the Kirana Hills?
The Kirana Hills are a small range of hills located in the Sargodha district of Pakistan’s Punjab province. Stretching across approximately 68 sq km, the area is heavily fortified and believed to be under the direct control of Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence.
What makes Kirana Hills particularly significant is not just their location, that is roughly 20 km from the Sargodha airbase and around 75 km from the Khushab nuclear complex, but what is said to be hidden within them.
Retired Indian Army officer Colonel Vinayak Bhat in his 2017 report for The Print, stated that the hills house a series of reinforced underground tunnels constructed by Pakistan’s Special Works Development (SWD) unit, an engineering body responsible for secret military infrastructure.
According to the report, these tunnels, allegedly up to 10 in number, are believed to be designed for the storage of nuclear warheads. Built with reinforced cement concrete (RCC) and layered with thermo-mechanically treated iron rods, these structures are intended to resist high-impact strikes. Though military experts warn that modern deep-penetration munitions could still breach such fortifications.
What Did IAF Say About Kirana Hills?
The buzz around Kirana Hills intensified after India's press briefing on May 12, where Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, responded to the media speculation about a possible strike on the location. Bharti said, “Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installations. We did not know about it.” He clarified, “We have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there.”
His remarks came amid escalating rumours and viral posts claiming that Indian strikes may have targeted not just terror camps, but deeper military assets, possibly as a message to Pakistan’s nuclear command.
According to open-source intelligence, satellite imagery of the Mushaf airbase in Sargodha, which lies in proximity to the Kirana Hills, did show signs of damage from precision strikes. While there's no confirmed evidence of a direct attack on the hills themselves, the implication is that India is signaling its awareness of and potential ability to reach Pakistan's most sensitive military sites.
Why Are Kirana Hills Important?
Kirana Hills are crucial not only for their physical infrastructure but also because they are believed to symbolise Pakistan's nuclear deterrent. As per a February 2025 report by the World Nuclear Association, Pakistan’s Khushab complex, close to the Kirana Hills, houses four heavy water reactors producing weapons-grade plutonium, which is the backbone of the country’s nuclear program.
These nuclear facilities and their protective structures are seen as 'red lines' in any conflict. According to a former US official cited by The New York Times, Pakistan’s "deepest fear is of its nuclear command authority being decapitated," and any indication that India can threaten such assets is taken with utmost seriousness in Islamabad.
