India Denies Striking Pakistan's Kirana Hills Nuclear Facility Amid Escalating Tensions

India's Response to Kirana Hills Allegations

• 💡 Indian Air Force Air Marshal AK Bharti categorically denied striking any nuclear installations at Kirana Hills, sarcastically stating, "We did not know about it."
• 🎯 Bharti presented evidence of Indian strikes on nine targets during Operation Sindhu, which included Pakistani air defense radars, airfields, and military installations, but did not mention Kirana Hills.

Speculation Surrounding a US Nuclear Aircraft

• ✈️ Reports emerged suggesting a US Department of Energy nuclear emergency support aircraft (B350 AMS) landed in Pakistan, fueling speculation of a radioactive leak.
• ❓ Open-source intelligence bloggers noted that a variant of the B350 aircraft was turned over to the Pakistan Army Aviation in 2010, raising questions about the identity of the aircraft.
• ⚠️ The purpose of the alleged US aircraft's flight remains a mystery, with no current information confirming if it was mistaken for a Pakistani aircraft used for radiation monitoring.

Pakistan's Kirana Hills and Nuclear Program

• ⛰️ Kirana Hills, also known as the "black mountains," is described as a nuclear testing site used by Pakistan between 1983 and 1990.
• 📌 It reportedly now serves as a nuclear weapon storage site, connected to the adjacent Mushaf Air Force Base.
• 💥 Allegations suggest that a combination of munitions targeted the hardened facility at Kirana Hills.

Broader Geopolitical Context

• 🚨 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned Pakistan against "nuclear blackmail" without directly mentioning the Kirana Hills incident.
• 💥 Pakistan acknowledged six locations on its territory were targeted during Operation Sindhu but claimed none were terrorist camps.
• 🌍 The situation remains tense following a ceasefire that brought a temporary halt to escalating hostilities between India and Pakistan.