New Delhi: During a press briefing on Operation Sindoor on Monday, Air Marshal AK Bharti said that the Indian armed forces did not strike the nuclear facility at Kirana Hills in Pakistan.
Replying to a query, Bharti quipped in a sarcastic tone, “Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installation. We did not know about it. And we have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there.”
Air Marshal AK Bharti made these comments in the presence of Lt Gen Rajeev Ghai from the Army, and Vice Admiral A N Pramod from the Navy, who were also present at the joint press briefing.
#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
Social media buzz gains momentum
His comments came in the wake of social media buzz and speculation that recent earthquakes in Pakistan were strangely related to an alleged Indian strike on a nuclear facility at Kirana Hills, near the Sargodha Air Base.
The buzz gained momentum after India confirmed hitting Sargodha in response to Pakistan’s massive drone and missile attacks. The online buzz and speculation grew even stronger after unconfirmed reports said that US and Egyptian military planes were seen on flight tracking apps, with some people making a conjecture that they might have a role in a mission to control a possible nuclear threat.
The timing of the India-Pakistan ceasefire pact fuelled even more conspiracy theories, even though there was no official confirmation of any strike on nuclear sites.
Air Marshal AK Bharti also underlined the preparedness and performance of Indian forces during Operation Sindoor. “Another highlight was the stellar performance of indigenous air defence weapons like the Akash system,” he said.
“All our military bases and systems continue to remain fully operational and ready to undertake any mission,” he asserted.
