'Pakistan was finished': Expert cites 'ample proof' IAF struck Kirana Hills nuclear site during Operation Sindoor

Cooper also referred to analysis by international atomic experts and Indian commentators who have described Kirana Hills as central to Pakistan's nuclear testing history

A long-running debate over whether a specific Indian strike during Operation Sindoor forced Pakistan to seek a ceasefire may have found fresh traction, with aviation historian Tom Cooper claiming the Kirana Hills facility was hit, NDTV reported.

In an interview with NDTV, Cooper said he believes the Indian Air Force targeted Kirana Hills - widely regarded as a key site in Pakistan's nuclear programme - despite official denials from India about striking the location.

He described the alleged attack as a calibrated message designed to demonstrate capability without triggering catastrophic escalation.

Cooper told NDTV that the timing of the strike aligned with heightened diplomatic activity, with Islamabad reaching out to Washington and New Delhi amid mounting pressure. While stopping short of characterising it as an outright plea, he suggested Pakistan's push for a ceasefire followed soon after. He asserted that by that stage, Pakistan's retaliatory Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos had failed and was effectively neutralised by Indian air defences and subsequent strikes.

Pressed for evidence during the NDTV interview, Cooper cited multiple indicators. These included videos allegedly filmed by Pakistani civilians showing missile contrails descending toward the hillside, as well as visible smoke near what he identified as a Pakistani Air Force radar installation. He argued that radar systems were struck first to degrade defensive capabilities before entrances to underground facilities were targeted.

Cooper also referred to analysis by international atomic experts and Indian commentators who have described Kirana Hills as central to Pakistan's nuclear testing history. He pointed to the presence of hardened shelters, tunnel networks and nearby Sargodha air base - home to F-16 squadrons - as circumstantial evidence supporting his assessment.

The aviation analyst told NDTV that the strike formed a key basis for his view that the conflict ended in India's favour.