Online platforms have been rife with various indications suggesting that Kirana Hills—a region near Pakistan’s Sargodha Air Base—was struck by India, with some linking recent seismic activity in Pakistan to alleged attacks on nuclear storage sites. The speculation intensified following India’s confirmation of strikes on the Sargodha Air Base and the subsequent ceasefire agreement between the two countries. Conspiracy theories also emerged around sightings of aircraft from the US and Egypt in Pakistani airspace, with claims they were investigating or containing possible nuclear leaks.
Did India Hit Nuclear Centres Of Pakistan?
Social media was flooded with a variety of claims and speculation following reports that the Indian Air Force (IAF) may have struck Pakistan’s nuclear storage facility at Kirana Hills, located near the Sargodha Airbase. Kirana Hills is believed to house several underground bunkers, tunnels, and missile storage systems, and lies just 9–10 km from the Sargodha Airbase, which hosts nuclear-capable F-16s from Pakistan’s 9th Squadron.
According to conspiracy theories circulating online, the IAF carried out a precision-guided strike on one of the tunnels at Kirana Hills, allegedly resulting in a blast powerful enough to cause a localized earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale.
The Indian Air Force’s strike rendered the runway at Sargodha Airbase inoperable, effectively preventing Pakistani forces from launching a counter-response. This has been corroborated by satellite imagery and video evidence.
Claims suggest that the strike penetrated deep into the rocky terrain, collapsing parts of the underground structure and potentially damaging stored nuclear warheads, which may have led to low-level radiation leakage.
These unverified reports were bolstered by geolocation analysis of videos purporting to show the strike, which some claim confirm the hit on a hillside entrance. Satellite imagery and thermal imaging data from global sources, including NASA’s Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), were interpreted by some as further evidence. One thermal hotspot, allegedly from the strike on Noor Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi/Islamabad, reportedly persisted for over 24 hours.
The large-scale IAF strike posed a serious threat to Pakistan’s nuclear command infrastructure and inflicted damage on the site. Sources indicate that the attack led to a partial collapse of an underground storage chamber, potentially resulting in the release of low-level nuclear radiation.
The IAF is also rumored to have struck other strategic locations, including Jacobabad Airbase, Bholari, and Chagai Hills, allegedly causing widespread infrastructure damage.
Why Was the US Nuclear Emergency Aircraft Spotted in Pakistan?
Adding to the confusion was the appearance of a U.S. B-350 AMS aircraft, which is typically used by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) for nuclear emergency response and radiation detection missions. The aircraft was reportedly seen flying over Pakistani airspace shortly after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire, raising speculation that it was deployed to assess potential radiation leaks following the IAF strikes.
Not long after, an aircraft from Egypt, registered as EGY1916, landed in Rawalpindi. According to netizens, it was potentially carrying emergency supplies of boron, a chemical element used in nuclear shielding due to its neutron-absorbing properties. Egypt is known to have access to boron from the Nile Delta and has equipment for responding to radiological emergencies.
Some suggest that the presence of the U.S. emergency aircraft, coupled with Egypt’s involvement, points to a serious nuclear incident in Pakistan. Further intensifying the claims, a retired U.S. Department of Energy aircraft, responsible for managing American nuclear assets, was reportedly en route to an undisclosed destination—leading some to believe it might be involved in securing or even relocating compromised Pakistani nuclear warheads.
“Pakistan has requested U.S. assistance in facilitating a ceasefire. Meanwhile, the U.S. B-350 AMS aircraft is reportedly carrying out radiation monitoring within Pakistani territory. At the same time, Egypt has deployed an aircraft believed to be transporting boron, and a U.S. Department of Energy plane is en route to an undisclosed destination. These developments appear to be more than just coincidences.
If the claims are to be believed, this would mark the first instance in modern history where a nuclear-armed country’s storage facilities were targeted by conventional military strikes. The idea that India refrained from escalating the situation further, despite reported Pakistani ceasefire violations, has been interpreted by some as an attempt to avoid worsening any potential nuclear fallout.
While none of these allegations have been officially confirmed by any government or international agency, the convergence of these events—airstrikes, thermal imaging data, and the movements of U.S. and Egyptian aircraft—has fueled ongoing conspiracy theories suggesting that Pakistan experienced a radiological emergency as a result of the Indian strikes.
● #𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 | 𝗡𝘂𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻 – Decoding Reason Behind Indo Pak Ceasefire
Why was the US National Nuclear Safety Administration's Nuclear Emergency Support Aircraft B-350 AMS Spotted in Pakistan ?
Read more [1/N] #OperationSindoor pic.twitter.com/ymDLHGImVC
— 𝗔𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗶 (@TheRudra1008) May 12, 2025
What Did Air Marshal AK Bharti Say?
During a press briefing on Operation Sindoor held on 12 May, Air Marshal AK Bharti firmly refuted widespread speculation that Indian forces had targeted Pakistan’s alleged nuclear facilities at Kirana Hills.
“We did not strike Kirana Hills,” he stated, addressing ongoing rumors circulating on social media and in international outlets. Responding to a question about whether India had hit a nuclear weapons storage location, Bharti remarked, “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.”
#OperationSindoor | Delhi: When asked if India hit Kirana Hills, Air Marshal AK Bharti says, "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." pic.twitter.com/wcBBVIhif1
— ANI (@ANI) May 12, 2025
Air Marshal Bharti emphasized that Operation Sindoor was launched strictly in response to terrorism and was not intended to target Pakistan’s military or civilians. He stated that the Indian response came after Pakistan attempted attacks on Indian cities and military posts using Turkish drones, Chinese-made missiles, and fighter jets.
“Our operations were directed at terrorist camps and the infrastructure that supports them—not against Pakistan’s armed forces,” he reiterated. “Unfortunately, the Pakistan military chose to protect these elements, which left us with no choice but to respond accordingly.”
During the briefing, Indian forces also presented wreckage from Turkish-made Songar drones and a Chinese-origin PL-15 air-to-air missile, which were reportedly used by Pakistan in the attempted attack.
(With Inputs From News 18)
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