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News18
20-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
New Satellite Image Hints At Indian Missile Strike On Pakistan's Kirana Hills During Op Sindoor
Last Updated: The satellite images were analysed and shared on X by geo-intelligence researcher and satellite imagery expert Damien Symon. Nearly a month after the government denied targeting Pakistan's nuclear hub at Kirana Hills during Operation Sindoor, a new satellite image emerged showing the impact zone of India's missile strike in the sensitive Sargodha district. India targeted key Pakistani military installations on May 10, as part of Operation Sindoor, to avenge the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. The satellite images were analysed and shared on X by geo-intelligence researcher and satellite imagery expert Damien Symon. 'Imagery update from Google Earth of the Sargodha region, Pakistan, captured in June 2025, shows — 1. The impact location of India's strike on Kirana Hills in May 2025; 2. Repaired runways at Sargodha airbase post-India's strikes in May 2025," he shared. Imagery update from Google Earth of the Sargodha region, Pakistan, captured in June 2025, shows –1 – the impact location of India's strike on Kirana Hills in May 20252 – repaired runways at Sargodha airbase post India's strikes in May 2025 — Damien Symon (@detresfa_) July 18, 2025 Further, another satellite image showed recently repaired runways at the Sargodha airbase, indicating it sustained damage during the Indian strikes in May. The swift restoration work suggests the airbase is regarded as a high-priority strategic installation. Kirana is a high-security zone linked to Pakistan's nuclear weapons program. It is believed to contain an underground facility for storing nuclear arms and has reportedly been used for nuclear research and testing, including subcritical tests carried out in the 1980s. While independent experts continue to assess the newly surfaced evidence, there has been no official statement from Pakistan confirming or denying the development. Following Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force also dismissed claims that it had targeted Kirana Hills. At a press conference on May 12, Director General of Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti responded to a query about the Kirana Hills strike, saying, 'Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installations. We did not know about it. We have not hit Kirana Hills. I did not brief in my briefing yesterday." Notably, his subtle smile while delivering the response drew significant attention online. view comments First Published: July 20, 2025, 07:55 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Satellite imagery suggests India's missile hit Pakistan's nuclear-hub Kirana Hills
This image shows the impact location of India's missile strike on Pak's Kirana Hills in May, geo-intel researcher Damien Symon posted on X NEW DELHI: More than two months after the Indian govt denied targeting Kirana Hills, where a chunk of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is believed to be located, fresh imagery from Google Earth, captured in June, appears to indicate that a missile indeed hit the strategically sensitive site in Pakistan's Sargodha district. On May 10, India targeted several key Pakistani military installations as part of Operation Sindoor to avenge the horrific killing of tourists in J&K's Pahalgam by terrorists linked to Pakistan-based terror groups. The satellite images were analysed and shared by well-known satellite imagery expert and geo-intelligence researcher Damien Symon on X. 'Imagery update from Google Earth of the Sargodha region, Pakistan, captured in June 2025, shows — 1. The impact location of India's strike on Kirana Hills in May 2025; 2. Repaired runways at Sargodha airbase post-India's strikes in May 2025,' he shared. Repaired runways at Sargodha airbase post India's strikes in May 2025. Courtesy Damien Symon on X Kirana is a heavily-fortified area associated with Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme. It's believed to house an underground nuclear weapons storage facility and serve as a site for nuclear research and testing, including subcritical nuclear tests conducted in the 1980s. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo The area is considered strategically important because of the radar stations and tunnels, supposed to be meant for military purpose, located there. The site's proximity to the Sargodha airbase (now rechristened Mushaf airbase) only adds to its strategic importance . In the immediate wake of Operation Sindoor, the IAF had denied reports that it hit Kirana Hills. Replying to a question on Kirana Hills in a press conference on May 12, Director General of Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti had said, 'Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installations. We did not know about it. We have not hit Kirana Hills. I did not brief in my briefing yesterday.' However, DGMO Bharti's peculiar smile while answering that question then went viral. To an X user's question on whether the Indian missile strike 'indicates that the explosion was deep inside and whether this place which was struck a point of significance like an entrance or an exit', Symon replied, 'No, this along with earlier imagery, neither indicate any subterranean impact or penetration, its just one side of a hill with nothing of value in its immediate vicinity, must've been a warning strike on India's part, tunnels etc are further away & don't show any damage. ' In addition to the impact site, the satellite images also showed repaired runways at the Sargodha airbase, further indicating damage sustained during the Indian strikes in May. The rapid repairs suggest the airbase was considered a high-priority strategic asset. India had launched around 15 BrahMos missiles and other precision weapons on the night of May 9-10, targeting key Pakistani airbases. The operation, carried out by the IAF, damaged 11 out of Pakistan's 13 major airbases, delivering a significant blow to the rival country's air defence network and military infrastructure. It was Symon who had earlier dismissed certain Pakistan media outlets' claims that their military had targeted the Adampur airbase in Punjab allegedly damaging a Su-30MKI and destroying a Russia-developed S-400 air defence system. To dismiss these assertions, Symon had then provided imagery from March 2025, well before the conflict, which depicted a MiG-29 undergoing routine maintenance. After the conflict ended, PM Narendra Modi went to the Adampur airbase and posed with security personnel with an S-400 missile defence battery in the background, debunking Pakistan's claims.
Express Tribune
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Decoding defeat: Five times Indian military officials admitted losses against Pakistan
The conflict between Pakistan and India in May 2025 marked a major military escalation between the two nuclear powers. Following the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which killed 26 tourists, New Delhi immediately blamed Islamabad without providing any evidence. It also took a raft of major diplomatic measures to downgrade its ties with Pakistan. Islamabad denied the allegations and offered an impartial probe into the incident. On the night of May 7, the Indian Air Force launched an unprovoked attack on civilian targets in Pakistan. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) immediately retaliated and shot down at least six IAF jets, including three French-built Rafales. On the night of 9–10 May, India launched another round of strikes against Pakistan, but this time targeted military sites. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, striking back at Indian military installations, including missile storage sites, airbases and other strategic targets. On May 10, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached following intense diplomatic efforts overnight. Read: French intelligence official confirms downing of Rafale by Pakistan While the Indian political leadership has consistently denied losses, a series of remarks from senior Indian defence officials over recent weeks suggest that the Indian Air Force (IAF) did suffer losses, and potentially more than previously acknowledged. It also shows that the political and military leadership are not on the same page and are at a loss on how to form a new narrative. Air Marshal AK Bharti The first official hint came on May 11, when Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, responded to a journalist's question at a press briefing on Operation Sindoor. He said, 'Losses are a part of combat… All our pilots are back home.' Though he did not confirm the number or type of aircraft lost, it marked the first public admission of any kind regarding IAF losses. General Anil Chauhan On May 31, General Anil Chauhan, India's Chief of Defence Staff, made a more pointed remark during an interview with Bloomberg Television at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. India's military confirmed for the first time that it lost an unspecified number of fighter jets in clashes with Pakistan in May. Anil Chauhan, chief of defense staff of the Indian Armed Forces, spoke to Bloomberg TV on Saturday, while attending the Shangri-La Dialogue in… — Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) May 31, 2025 Dismissing reports that six Indian jets had been downed, he remarked, 'What is important is not the jet being down, but why they were being down… That is more important for us. And what did we do after that.' General Chauhan also acknowledged that the IAF was "handicapped" in its flying operations for the next two days — a significant revelation from India's top military official. Captain (IN) Shiv Kumar A third and particularly candid admission came on June 10 from Captain (IN) Shiv Kumar, India's Defence Attaché to Indonesia, while speaking at a university seminar titled 'Analysis of the Pakistan–India Air Battle and Indonesia's Anticipatory Strategies from the Perspective of Air Power', hosted by Universitas Dirgantara Marsekal Suryadarma in Jakarta. 'IAF Lost Fighter Jets to Pak Because of Political Leadership's Constraints': Indian Defence Attachehttps:// — The Wire (@thewire_in) June 29, 2025 'I may not agree that we lost so many aircraft, but I do agree we did lose some aircraft… The Indian Air Force lost fighter jets to Pakistan on the night of May 7, 2025, only because of the constraint given by the political leadership to not attack the military establishment or their air defences,' he said. Read more: India again admits jet losses in Pakistan clash, citing political limits Captain Kumar's statement was notable not only for confirming the IAF's losses but also for attributing them directly to political limitations imposed by New Delhi — an implication that contradicts official claims that the armed forces were given full operational freedom during the conflict. Defence Secretary RK Singh On July 8, Defence Secretary RK Singh added to the growing list of official acknowledgements in an interview with CNBC-TV18. Responding to speculation about the loss of multiple Rafale aircraft, he said, 'You have used the term Rafales in the plural, I can assure you that is absolutely not correct.' While aimed at denying the scale of losses claimed by Pakistan, Singh's remark effectively confirmed that at least one Rafale may have been downed — again, without disclosing numbers. Lt General Rahul Singh Further confirmation came from Indian Deputy Army Chief Lt General Rahul Singh, who, two months after the fighting ended, acknowledged India's military defeat in the operation. Also read: Pakistan had real-time knowledge of Indian jets during Operation Sindoor: security experts Though his remarks included accusations that Pakistan's success was backed by foreign support from China and Turkey, regional analysts and security experts have dismissed these claims, asserting that Pakistan's gains were achieved independently. 'Pakistan's security forces were fully aware of Indian fighter jet movements in real-time… We have been preparing for decades to counter India,' security experts said, adding that the victory was the result of professionalism, strategy, and training, not external assistance. Taken together, these statements paint a picture of guarded admissions by Indian officials, revealing more through what was left unsaid than what was openly confirmed.
Hindustan Times
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
China, Pakistan behind anti-Rafale jets campaign? France flags 'disinformation' after India's Operation Sindoor
France is allegedly fighting a 'disinformation' campaign against its Rafale jets, with its military and intelligence officials revealing that China used its embassies to undermine the sales and harm the reputation of the French flagship fighter. A French fighter aircraft Rafale M manufactured by Dassault Aviaition, stands on the tarmac before a practice session for a simulated landing on an aircraft carrier at the Landivisiau Navy Air Base (BAN Landivisiau) in Saint-Servais, Brittany, France, (REUTERS file) Defence attaches in Chinese foreign embassies led the campaign to undermine Rafale sales, seeking to persuade countries not to buy more of the French fighter and instead choose Chinese-made jets, The Associated Press reported, citing findings from a French intelligence service. Sales of the Rafale jets and other heavy weaponry bring big business for France's defence industry, helping efforts by the government to strengthen ties with India and other nations in Asia, where China is trying to establish itself as the dominant power. French officials reportedly have said other countries began to raise questions over Rafale's performance after Pakistan claimed to have downed five Indian planes, including three Rafales, during the fighting in May. Pakistan's claim about Rafale has not been confirmed by India. Air Marshal AK Bharti, during a press briefing on Operation Sindoor, had responded to reports of Rafale jets being downed, stating that "losses are a part of any combat scenario" without confirming or denying the claims. ALSO READ | Did India lose Rafale fighter jet in Operation Sindoor action? Indian military says this Captain Shiv Kumar, an Indian Navy officer, said last month that India did lose some fighter jets on the opening day of its military operation against Pakistan due to initial restrictions. He, however, did "not agree" with the claims that the nation lost as many as five fighter planes. Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, which makes the Rafale jets, recently dismissed Pakistan's claim and called it "inaccurate". Speaking to Challenges, a French magazine, he refuted Islamabad's claims that three Rafale jets were shot down during the four-day conflict between India and Pakistan in May. 'Rafale not targeted randomly': French ministry French officials have said they are pushing back against the alleged concerted campaign of Rafale-bashing and disinformation online at the hands of Pakistan and China. France said the campaign reportedly included manipulated visuals of supposed Rafale debris, AI-generated content, and more than 1,000 newly created social media accounts to spread a narrative of Chinese technology being superior. ALSO READ | Rafale maker Dassault Aviation stock nears record high after India-Pak military conflict However, French military officials have not been able to directly link the online bashing to the Chinese government. The French intelligence service said that Chinese embassy defense attaches echoed similar narratives in meetings they held with other countries' counterparts and security officials. Chinese officials reportedly focused their lobbying on countries that have ordered Rafales and nations that are potential customers of the French fighter planes, the intelligence finding said. The French defence ministry said Rafale was being targeted by "a vast campaign of disinformation" that "sought to promote the superiority of alternative equipment, notably of Chinese design." "The Rafale was not randomly targeted. It is a highly capable fighter jet, exported abroad and deployed in a high-visibility theater," the ministry said on its website. 'The Rafale was also targeted because it represents a strategic French offering. By attacking the aircraft, certain actors sought to undermine the credibility of France and its defense industrial and technological base. The disinformation campaign therefore did not merely target an aircraft, but more broadly a national image of strategic autonomy, industrial reliability, and solid partnerships," it added. Meanwhile, China's ministry of national defense told AP that France's claims "are pure groundless rumours and slander". "China has consistently maintained a prudent and responsible approach to military exports, playing a constructive role in regional and global peace and stability," it added. Rafale maker Dassault Aviation has sold 533 jets, including 323 for export to Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, and Indonesia. So far, Indonesia has ordered 42 planes and is considering purchasing more Rafales.
Hindustan Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Pak turned terror into statecraft': India trashes OIC's statement on Op Sindoor
NEW DELHI: India on Monday rubbished references to last month's military clashes with Pakistan and the status of Jammu and Kashmir in a statement issued by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and accused Pakistan of turning 'terrorism into statecraft' and misusing the grouping for narrow political ends. FILE PHOTO: Director General of Military Operations Lt General Rajiv Ghai with Air Marshal AK Bharti during a press conference on 'Operation Sindoor' in New Delhi on May 11 (PTI) The external affairs ministry's response came a day after a meeting of OIC foreign ministers in Istanbul, Turkiye, expressed solidarity with Pakistan following what it said were India's 'unjustified' military strikes last month and called for adherence to bilateral agreements such as the Indus Waters Treaty. A declaration adopted at the OIC meeting also backed the right to self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The external affairs ministry rejected the 'unwarranted and factually incorrect references' to India at the OIC meeting and said such 'statements, driven by Pakistan, which has turned terrorism into statecraft, reflect the continued misuse of the OIC platform for narrow political ends'. While rejecting Pakistan's baseless allegation of 'unprovoked and unjustified military aggression', the external affairs ministry said in a statement that India's Operation Sindoor was conducted in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 and was a 'precise and legitimate act of self-defence against terrorist camps operating from Pakistani territory'. 'It is absurd for Pakistan to speak of targeting only Indian military installations when its retaliatory attempts not only failed but recklessly endangered civilian lives and property and ended up causing several deaths and injuries among the civilian population,' the ministry said. Following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to target terrorist infrastructure at nine locations in territories controlled by Pakistan. Islamabad retaliated with strikes on Indian military installations, triggering four days of clashes that ended when the two sides reached an understanding on halting military actions on May 10. A day after the Pahalgam attack, India also unveiled a slew of diplomatic and economic punitive measures, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. The Indian side also highlighted the OIC's 'repeated failure to acknowledge the real and documented threat of terrorism emanating from Pakistan', including the heinous attack at Pahalgam, and said this 'reflects a wilful disregard for facts and the global consensus on the fight against terrorism'. 'The OIC has no locus standi to comment on India's internal affairs, including Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral and sovereign part of India - a fact enshrined in the Indian Constitution and irreversibly settled,' the external affairs ministry said. 'The OIC should reflect deeply on the perils of allowing Pakistan's propaganda to hijack and politicise its agenda. Any other course can only undermine the OIC's credibility and relevance,' it said. The statement noted that comments made by Pakistan at the OIC meeting are 'nothing more than a desperate attempt to deflect international attention from its own appalling record of state-sponsored terrorism, minority persecution and sectarian violence, apart from failure of governance'. It added, 'It is also ironic that Pakistan, a country with an abysmal human rights record and a history of sheltering, breeding and empowering terrorists, should lecture others on counter-terrorism and human rights.' The declaration adopted at the OIC foreign ministers meeting called for adherence to bilateral agreements, including Indus Waters Treaty, and a dialogue for peaceful settlement of all outstanding disputes between Pakistan and India. Besides expressing solidarity with the government of Pakistan, it expressed concern at the 'military escalation' in South Asia, 'including the unjustified strikes carried out on multiple locations' in Pakistan and called for maximum restraint and avoiding actions that would destabilise the region.
