Kirana Hills and Operation Sindoor: Reveal the Shadow War in South Asia
Deep in Pakistan’s heartland of Punjab province, a serrated ridge of stone called the Kirana Hills looms like a silent guardian—enigmatic, isolated, and wrapped in decades of military mystery. For years, this barren range along the edge of Sargodha was closed to civilians and journalists alike. But in May 2025, India’s daring and divisive Operation Sindoor airstrike campaign put the Kirana Hills back on the world stage—this time, with nuclear security, global surveillance, and psychological warfare on the agenda.
What Are the Kirana Hills?
To the untrained eye, the Kirana Hills are just a chain of black, volcanic hills spread over 260 square kilometers. But beneath this barren landscape lies one of Pakistan’s most sensitive military assets—a rumored hub for nuclear development, storage, and missile deployment.
Since the 1980s, intelligence reports and declassified documents have pointed to subcritical nuclear tests conducted here. Known as the Kirana-I series, these tests were crucial in the evolution of Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent. The area is heavily guarded, sits adjacent to the powerful Mushaf Airbase, and has long been under the radar of foreign intelligence agencies—especially from the United States and India.
Enter Operation Sindoor
May 10, 2025: India initiated Operation Sindoor—a swift and surgically calibrated reprisal in the wake of a high-casualty terror strike in Jammu & Kashmir. Targeting some of Pakistan’s key military sites such as Sargodha and other airbases, the operation was designed to disable Pakistan’s retaliatory capabilities without launching a full-scale war.
Yet, one name kept surfacing in the post-attack buzz: Kirana Hills.
- Did India attack a nuclear plant?
- Did a radiation leak occur?
- Was this an undeclared notice that no location of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is secure anymore?
The Fog of War: Competing Claims
Indian Air Force spokesmen promptly denied having aimed at the Kirana Hills in particular.
“We have not struck Kirana Hills—whatever is there,”
— Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Director General of Air Operations
The carefully worded statement seemed almost calculated to create intrigue rather than extinguish it.
Pakistan, on the other hand, remained quiet—at first. Then, strange developments emerged:
- Unconfirmed videos of emergency evacuations around Sargodha
- U.S. surveillance aircraft sightings in the region
- A viral letter, allegedly from Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense, claiming a radiation leak
That letter, however, was quickly exposed as a hoax—possibly a part of a sophisticated psychological operation intended to shake public trust in Pakistan’s nuclear command and control.
What Actually Occurred?
Without verifiable ground reports, much remains speculative. But most strategic analysts agree that India’s objective was likely symbolic, not kinetic:
“We can hit your most defended locations—if we want to.”
This aligns with modern patterns of hybrid warfare—a combination of:
- Kinetic strikes
- Cyber operations
- Disinformation campaigns
All designed to achieve strategic success without crossing the nuclear threshold.
The message? Even your nuclear redoubts aren’t safe.
Why It Matters
The Kirana Hills represent the core of Pakistan’s nuclear red line. Any action—or even the perception of action—against this facility dramatically escalates regional tensions.
In a region where both countries are nuclear-armed, and follow different doctrines—India’s “No First Use” versus Pakistan’s “Full Spectrum Deterrence”—even a minor misstep can spiral into a catastrophic escalation.
Operation Sindoor was more than a military act—it was a strategic signal, a psychological gambit, and possibly a doctrinal disruption.
Conclusion: The Quiet Volcano
As the dust settles over Sargodha, the Kirana Hills remain on silent watch. No mushroom clouds hovered over Punjab, but something equally potent was released: the fear of the unknown.
In the high-stakes chess match between India and Pakistan, the Kirana Hills are no longer a secret—they are a symbol.
A symbol of:
- Power
- Vulnerability
- And the razor-thin line between peace and disaster
And in that silence, the world holds its breath.
