Didn’t hit Kirana Hills, not aware of what lies there: IAF on strike at N-site

Amid speculation that Pakistan’s nuclear facility at Kirana Hills, northwest of Islamabad, may have been damaged during recent military exchange with India, a senior Indian Air Force officer on Monday said, “We have not hit it.”

Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations at the IAF, addressed questions during a press conference and said, “We have not hit Kirana Hills and whatever is there.” The officer, who is leading India’s air operations against Pakistan, further said, “We are not aware of any nuclear facility at that location.”

Also present at the press briefing were the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, and the Director General of Naval Operations, Vice Admiral AN Pramod.

Air Marshal Bharti provided details about Operation Sindoor and the current pause in hostilities between India and Pakistan. He said despite some minor damage, “all our military bases and systems remain fully operational and ready to undertake further missions, if required”.

The IAF officer stated, “Our objective was to dismantle terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as well as within Pakistan itself (May 7). Our fight was against terrorists and their support infrastructure. However, it is a pity that the Pakistani military chose to intervene on behalf of the terrorists, forcing us to respond accordingly.”

He also shared operational details, including the damage inflicted on Pakistan’s Rahim Yaar Khan airbase and the Indian missile strike on the Nur Khan base near Rawalpindi.

The Air Marshal said future conflicts would differ significantly from past engagements. “Technology is advancing rapidly. We are incorporating it and so is the adversary,” he said.

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