The mystery of Kirana Hills: Nuclear storage facility, military arsenal, underground tunnels, and whispers of radioactive leak. All you need to know

OpIndia : The sudden interest in Kirana Hills surged after India's retaliatory strikes against Pakistan, with rumors of a nuclear fallout emerging on social media. Speculations about the area housing nuclear storage facilities were fueled by ambiguous official statements and flight radar images of foreign planes. This led to heightened global curiosity, especially regarding its role in Pakistan's nuclear program.

Nuclear leak, radiation, Boron, and a bunch of conspiracy theories began to float on social media as reports emerged that India, in its retaliatory strikes against Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, has reportedly hit the Kirana Hills in Pakistan. The Kirana Hills, which are close to the Sargodha Air Base, are said to be a nuclear storage facility. While India did hit the Sargodha Air Base, however, the Air Marshal AK Bharti categorically denied these claims, although his advertant or inadvertent smirk fanned further speculations.

Denying hitting any nuclear storage facility in the Kirana Hills, the Air Force officer said, “Thank you for telling us that Pakistan has stored its nuclear weapons at Kirana Hills, whatever is there. We have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there. I did not brief in my briefing yesterday.”

In a press briefing, the Pakistani DG ISPR Sharif Ahmed Chaudhary, also said that there is no truth in the claims that India has hit Pakistan’s nuclear establishment in Pakistan, although while saying this, he had an uncomfortable smile on his face.

Amidst all this, social media claims emerged that an Egyptian Air Force plane carrying a huge amount of Boron landed in Pakistan to test nuclear leaks or contain them. Social media posts also showed flight radar images to claim that a US Energy Department plane also arrived in Pakistan. However, no official confirmation is there about the same.

Notably, as per a Dawn newspaper report, one of the Indian drones did fall in the area of Kirana Hills. So far, people have mostly heard of Kahuta and Chagai in the context of Pakistan’s nuclear mission, but Kirana Hills is rather a new name.

As Kirana Hills and the speculation that it houses one of Pakistan’s nuclear storage facilities started making the rounds on social media, it has piqued global interest, especially among Indians and neutral defence analysts. So, what is the secret of Kirana Hills? Why is it important?

Kirana Hills: Home to Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal?

Kirana Hills, also known as the Black Mountains due to brownish terrain, is a range in the Punjab state of Pakistan. It is located in the Sargodha district of Pakistan. This hill range is about 80 kilometres long. Several research projects were undertaken on Kirana Hills during the British rule.

It is about 170 kilometres away from the Indian border. There is a forest around Kirana Hills, and it is said that wild animals are found here. Pakistan had also excavated here to search for uranium.

Pakistan’s Defence Ministry took over Kirana Hills around 1970. Kirana Hills is a part of Mushaf Airbase. Mushaf Airbase is an important military base of the Pakistani Air Force, and its aircraft, including F-16 and JF-17, are stationed here. There is also a radar station here.

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