Nuclear leak happened in Pakistan’s Kirana Hills? World’s top atomic agency finally issues statement

There was no radiation leak or release from any nuclear facility in Pakistan, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said, rejecting widespread reports that claimed Indian missiles struck Kirana Hills in Pakistan’s Sargodha during Operation Sindoor, triggering a radioactive incident.

Fredrik Dahl from IAEA’s press department in an email response to TOI’s query stated, “We are aware of the reports. Based on information available to the IAEA, there was no radiation leak or release from any nuclear facility in Pakistan.”

The clarification followed social media speculation and foreign media theories suggesting a nuclear stockpile in Pakistan had been hit during the airstrikes.

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The development came two days after Indian Air Force’s director general of air operations, Air Marshal A K Bharti, denied that India had targeted Kirana Hills or any nuclear installation in Pakistan. When asked by the media, Bharti said, “Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses nuclear installations. We didn’t know about it. We have not hit Kirana Hills and whatever is there.”

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The Ministry of External Affairs also rejected reports of a radiation leak. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a press briefing on Tuesday, said, “Our military action was entirely within the conventional domain. Some reports were suggesting that Pakistan’s National Command Authority would convene a meeting, but those were later denied. In fact, Pakistan’s govt representatives have officially denied this on record.”

The IAEA issued a statement to counter speculation that a radiation leak was the reason behind the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Certain international analysts on global media channels had supported these claims, suggesting the reports were credible. The rumours gained traction after flight tracking platforms reportedly detected a U.S. Department of Energy aircraft—typically deployed in nuclear incidents such as Fukushima—operating near Pakistan.

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Another claim that an Egyptian military aircraft landed in Pakistan carrying boron, a chemical used to contain radioactive emissions, also circulated. Both these claims were unverified and dismissed by former military officials as baseless.

Kirana Hills: Pakistan’s strategic vault

Kirana Hills is considered one of Pakistan’s most fortified military zones, widely believed to host over ten underground nuclear tunnels. It sits about 75 kilometres from the Khushab nuclear complex, home to four heavy water reactors used to produce weapons-grade plutonium.

The site has long been viewed by analysts as central to Pakistan’s second-strike capability. Its location, along with adjacent airbases, makes it a high-stakes target in any cross-border military calculus.

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(With TOI inputs)