Tom Cooper Alleges Indian Strike on Kirana Hills During Operation Sindoor

New Delhi/Islamabad: Aviation historian and military analyst Tom Cooper has asserted that India targeted Pakistan’s Kirana Hills nuclear-linked facility during Operation Sindoor, describing the available evidence as “unmistakable.”

In an interview with NDTV, Cooper said he had examined multiple indicators supporting his assessment, despite official denials issued by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

“A Strategic Message”

According to Cooper, the timing and nature of the alleged strike suggest it was calibrated to send a strategic signal rather than inflict maximum destruction.

“It’s a place you hit when you want to send a clear message without causing too much damage,” he said, adding that such an operation would effectively communicate the ability to strike critical sites with precision and intent.

Earlier, in a social media post during the course of Operation Sindoor, Cooper criticised what he described as the IAF’s public communication strategy for not acknowledging reports of a strike near Kirana Hills. Referring to remarks made at a press briefing by Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Cooper questioned the official dismissal of the claims.

Diplomatic Sequence and Escalation Dynamics

Cooper further argued that subsequent diplomatic developments reinforced his interpretation. He pointed to reported outreach efforts by Islamabad to both Washington and New Delhi amid calls for a ceasefire, suggesting that the broader sequence of military and diplomatic events aligned with his assessment of a significant strike.

While stopping short of characterising the developments as an outright plea for de-escalation, Cooper maintained that the timing of diplomatic engagement following the alleged strike was noteworthy.

Evidence and Strategic Implications

Addressing questions about the basis of his claims, Cooper cited open-source materials, including videos that purportedly show missile contrails descending toward the hillside and smoke rising from installations he identified as radar facilities linked to a Pakistani Air Force unit.

He argued that disabling radar infrastructure would have been consistent with a strategy aimed at degrading air defence capabilities before targeting underground storage entrances. Kirana Hills, he noted, has long been associated with elements of Pakistan’s nuclear programme and is widely believed to have hosted multiple sub-critical nuclear tests in the past.

Pakistan has not publicly acknowledged any damage to nuclear-related infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has maintained that it did not conduct strikes on such facilities.

Cooper also contended that Pakistan’s retaliatory response, reportedly carried out under Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, was largely neutralised by Indian air defence systems.

Describing the alleged strike as one of the decisive moments of the confrontation, Cooper characterised the episode as a clear strategic success for India. However, in the absence of official confirmation from either side, the competing narratives underscore the opaque and highly sensitive nature of modern military engagements between nuclear-armed neighbours.