Satellite imagery from June 2025 has surfaced, suggesting a potential Indian missile strike on Pakistan's Kirana Hills, a region long suspected to be a key site in Pakistan's nuclear program. The images, analyzed by geo-intelligence expert Damien Symon, indicate an impact point consistent with a missile strike in the Sargodha district. This revelation comes after India's "Operation Sindoor" in May 2025, launched in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Kirana Hills has been associated with Pakistan's nuclear ambitions since the 1980s and is believed to house an underground nuclear weapons storage facility, as well as being a site for nuclear research and testing. The area's strategic importance is amplified by its proximity to the Sargodha airbase (now Mushaf airbase) and the presence of radar stations and tunnels.
Following Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force (IAF) denied targeting Kirana Hills. At a press conference on May 12, Director General of Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti responded to a question about Kirana Hills by stating, "Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installations. We did not know about it. And we have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there".
Despite these denials, the recent satellite imagery has reignited speculation about the events that transpired during Operation Sindoor. The images analyzed by Damien Symon reveal not only the impact location but also repaired runways at the Sargodha airbase, indicating damage sustained during the Indian strikes in May. The rapid repairs suggest the airbase was considered a high-priority strategic asset.
The alleged strike's proximity to Kirana Hills, coupled with earlier unverified social media footage showing smoke billowing from the hills and satellite imagery indicating damage near Sargodha, had already sparked widespread speculation about potential damage to a nuclear storage facility. While the Indian government and IAF have denied targeting the hills, some analysts interpreted the strikes' proximity to Pakistan's nuclear infrastructure as strategic messaging, signaling India's capability to strike sensitive locations.
Adding another layer to the controversy, Pakistan had claimed to have struck India's Adampur air base during the conflict, causing damage to a Sukhoi Su-30MKI and destroying a critical S-400 air defense system. However, Damien Symon debunked these claims with satellite imagery from March 2025, showing a MiG-29 undergoing routine maintenance at the base. The markings Pakistan cited as evidence of destruction were identified as typical soot from standard operations. This incident appears to be part of a broader disinformation campaign by Pakistan following setbacks during Operation Sindoor.
The recent revelations regarding the potential strike on Kirana Hills and the debunked claims about the Adampur air base highlight the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. If validated, the confirmed strike on Kirana Hills could further escalate these tensions, especially given the site's association with Pakistan's nuclear and missile development programs. As independent analysts continue to scrutinize the new evidence, official confirmation or denial from Pakistan remains pending.
