In a move that has sent shockwaves through defense and geopolitical circles, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has seemingly confirmed one of the most sensitive aspects of Operation Sindoor: that its May 2025 retaliatory strikes reached deep into Pakistani territory and struck the heavily guarded Kirana Hills complex—a site long suspected of housing Pakistan’s tactical nuclear weapons [[1]]. The revelation comes not through an official press release, but via a carefully curated video montage shown during the IAF’s Republic Day 2026 celebrations, featuring real-time cockpit footage and targeting sequences overlaid with the silhouette of a Rafale fighter jet [[2]].
Table of Contents
- What is Op Sindoor? A Brief Recap
- The IAF Video: Decoding the Kirana Hills Footage
- Why Kirana Hills Matters: Pakistan’s Nuclear Secret
- Strategic Implications of Hitting a Nuclear Site
- Pakistan’s Response and the Information War
- Conclusion: What Op Sindoor Reveals About India’s New Doctrine
- Sources
What is Op Sindoor? A Brief Recap
Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7, 2025, as a direct and calibrated response to a major terrorist attack on an Indian military convoy in Jammu & Kashmir that killed dozens of soldiers [[3]]. In a departure from past doctrines, India did not limit its retaliation to militant camps near the Line of Control. Instead, it conducted precision airstrikes on multiple high-value targets across Pakistan, including command-and-control centers and, as now appears confirmed, strategic military infrastructure.
The operation marked a significant evolution in India’s counter-terrorism strategy, signaling a willingness to escalate proportionally and hold the Pakistani state directly accountable for cross-border terrorism.
The IAF Video: Decoding the Kirana Hills Footage
The IAF’s Republic Day video is more than just a patriotic tribute; it’s a deliberate piece of strategic communication. The sequence in question shows a digital map with a clear flight path originating from an Indian airbase, crossing the international border, and terminating at coordinates that match the known location of the Kirana Hills complex in Punjab province, Pakistan [[2]]. This is followed by simulated bomb-release graphics and a ground explosion.
Critically, this segment is paired with visuals of the Dassault Rafale—the IAF’s most advanced multirole fighter, capable of carrying precision-guided munitions like the SCALP cruise missile, which has the range and accuracy to conduct such deep-strike missions [[4]]. While the IAF has not explicitly stated “we bombed Kirana Hills,” the visual narrative leaves little room for alternative interpretation. It’s a classic example of showing rather than telling in the realm of military signaling.
Why Kirana Hills Matters: Pakistan’s Nuclear Secret
Kirana Hills is not just another military base. For decades, it has been identified by international non-proliferation experts as one of Pakistan’s primary storage and possibly assembly sites for its Nasr (Hatf-IX) short-range ballistic missiles—tactical nuclear weapons designed for battlefield use [[5]]. The site’s significance cannot be overstated:
- It is a central node in Pakistan’s “first-use” nuclear doctrine.
- Its location makes it a key deterrent against any conventional Indian military advance.
- Any damage to this site would represent a direct challenge to Pakistan’s nuclear posture.
A successful strike here would be an unprecedented escalation, moving beyond counter-terrorism into the realm of strategic deterrence.
Strategic Implications of Hitting a Nuclear Site
If confirmed, the targeting of Kirana Hills during Op Sindoor represents a monumental shift in India’s military doctrine. It demonstrates a new level of confidence in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, as well as in the ability to penetrate Pakistan’s integrated air defense system. More importantly, it signals that India is now willing to hold Pakistan’s strategic assets at risk in response to acts of terror—a dangerous but potentially effective form of deterrence.
This move blurs the line between conventional and nuclear warfare, raising the stakes dramatically. It forces Pakistan to reconsider the security of its entire nuclear arsenal and could lead to a new, more volatile phase in the subcontinent’s arms race.
Pakistan’s Response and the Information War
Unsurprisingly, Pakistan has denied that any of its strategic sites were hit during the May 2025 strikes. Its military spokesperson dismissed the IAF video as “propaganda” and claimed all incoming missiles were intercepted [[6]]. However, the lack of concrete counter-evidence and the specific nature of the IAF’s visuals have made this denial less credible in international defense analysis circles.
This episode highlights how modern warfare is as much about controlling the narrative as it is about physical destruction. By releasing this video, India has seized the initiative in the information domain, shaping global perception of Op Sindoor as a precise, successful, and strategically bold operation.
Conclusion: What Op Sindoor Reveals About India’s New Doctrine
The IAF’s Republic Day video is far more than a celebratory clip. It is a powerful statement of intent and capability. By strongly implying a strike on Kirana Hills, India has signaled a new era in its national security strategy—one characterized by proactive deterrence, technological superiority, and a willingness to take calculated risks to protect its sovereignty. Whether this deters future attacks or triggers a dangerous escalation remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the rules of engagement between India and Pakistan have been irrevocably changed by Op Sindoor.
Sources
- [[1]] The Times of India: “In its R-Day video, IAF shows Pak n-site Kirana Hills being bombed”
- [[2]] Indian Air Force Official YouTube Channel: “IAF Republic Day Flypast 2026”
- [[3]] Ministry of Defence, India: Press Release on Operation Sindoor (May 2025)
- [[4]] Dassault Aviation: “Rafale: The Omnirole Fighter”
- [[5]] Federation of American Scientists (FAS): “Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons Program”
- [[6]] Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan: Official Statement on May 2025 Strikes