New Delhi/India: A fresh controversy has emerged over whether India’s Air Force targeted Pakistan’s strategically sensitive Kirana Hills during the reported “Operation Sindoor” in May 2025. While the Indian Air Force (IAF) has firmly denied striking the site, noted military analyst Tom Cooper has questioned the official version, citing satellite imagery and open-source evidence that he says suggest otherwise.
The issue has triggered intense debate in defence circles, particularly because Kirana Hills, located near Sargodha in Pakistan’s Punjab province, has long been associated in international strategic discussions with underground military infrastructure. Some historical reports have speculated about its connection to Pakistan’s nuclear-related facilities, though Islamabad has never publicly confirmed such claims.
India’s Official Position: “No Strike on Kirana Hills”
Senior IAF officials have categorically rejected reports that Kirana Hills was targeted. According to the Air Force, operations were limited strictly to conventional military objectives. Officials emphasized that India’s actions were calibrated, precise, and focused only on identified military installations.
The denial is significant. Any strike on a site believed to be linked to nuclear infrastructure would carry major diplomatic and strategic consequences, potentially escalating tensions far beyond conventional military engagement.
Tom Cooper’s Claims
Austrian military aviation historian and analyst Tom Cooper has publicly suggested that open-source satellite imagery and social media videos from around May 10, 2025, indicate possible impact points in the Kirana Hills area. He has argued that visible terrain disturbances, potential structural damage, and reported radar disruptions in the broader Sargodha region raise questions about the official narrative.
However, Cooper’s assessment is based on publicly available imagery and independent analysis. No government or international monitoring body has formally confirmed a strike on the location.
What Do Satellite Images Show?
Independent geospatial analysts reviewing commercial satellite images have pointed to:
- Apparent surface disturbances in select hill sections
- Activity suggesting repairs or restricted access in surrounding military zones
- Changes in terrain patterns compared to earlier imagery
That said, experts caution that satellite interpretation can be complex. Shadows, seasonal variations, construction activity, or unrelated military movement can sometimes be misread as strike damage. Without on-ground verification or official acknowledgment, conclusions remain speculative.
Why the Issue Is Sensitive
Kirana Hills has long occupied a strategic position in regional security discourse. Because of its proximity to key Pakistani air bases and its association in historical reporting with hardened underground facilities, any suggestion of a strike there immediately raises the stakes.
If a nuclear-linked site were targeted, it would represent a dramatic shift in military doctrine and could invite global diplomatic repercussions. That is precisely why official clarity — and credible independent verification — are critical.
The Bottom Line
At present:
- The Indian Air Force denies any strike on Kirana Hills.
- Tom Cooper and some analysts suggest evidence points to possible impact in the area.
- No independent international confirmation has verified a strike on a nuclear-related facility.
Until more concrete evidence emerges, the Kirana Hills question remains an unresolved strategic mystery — one shaped as much by information warfare and perception as by military fact.
