Did India's Airstrikes Decimate Pakistan's Nuclear Den? IAEA Investigation Reveals the Truth

New Delhi: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has officially confirmed that no radiation leak or release occurred from any nuclear facility in Pakistan during India's recent military strikes, settling days of speculation and addressing international concerns about nuclear safety in the region.

Join the Whatsapp Channel to Get News updates in english

This authoritative statement comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, the four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan that raised global alarm about potential damage to sensitive nuclear installations.

IAEA Investigation Finds No Evidence of Nuclear Incident

"Based on information available to the IAEA, there has been no radiation leak or release from any nuclear facility in Pakistan," stated the spokesperson for the global nuclear watchdog in response to queries from The Indian Express on Tuesday.

The IAEA's Incident and Emergency Centre, which serves as the international focal point for nuclear and radiological emergency response, had been monitoring the situation closely following reports that Pakistan's Kirana Hills area—allegedly housing nuclear facilities—might have been impacted during Indian airstrikes.

This definitive assessment from the world's premier nuclear oversight body effectively corroborates India's earlier assertions that it did not target any nuclear installations during Operation Sindoor, which was launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 Indian lives.

US State Department's Measured Response Aligned with IAEA Findings

The IAEA's statement aligns with earlier signals from Washington. When questioned during a May 13 press briefing about whether the United States would be dispatching investigative teams to Pakistan to examine potential nuclear radiation leaks, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott notably refrained from validating such concerns.

"I have no updates to share," Pigott stated, in what analysts now interpret as diplomatic confirmation that U.S. intelligence had detected no evidence supporting claims of damage to nuclear facilities.

Security experts suggest this coordinated messaging from international bodies indicates a concerted effort to de-escalate nuclear anxieties in an already tense region.

Indian Air Force Explicitly Denied Targeting Nuclear Sites

Prior to the IAEA's confirmation, the Indian Air Force had already issued categorical denials about targeting any nuclear facilities during Operation Sindoor.

In a notable exchange during a May 12 press conference, Director General of Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti responded to questions about strikes on Kirana Hills with a pointed remark that revealed the strategic calculation behind India's targeting decisions.

"Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installation. We did not know about it. And we have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there," Bharti stated, with what observers described as deliberate ambiguity about India's intelligence regarding Pakistani nuclear sites.

Defense analysts interpret Bharti's response as carefully calibrated—simultaneously denying targeting nuclear facilities while maintaining India's position that its strikes were precisely targeted at terrorist infrastructure.

Nuclear Safety Concerns Highlight Regional Volatility

The episode underscores the complex nuclear dynamics of South Asia, where both India and Pakistan maintain nuclear arsenals under intense international scrutiny.

"Even unfounded rumors about nuclear facilities being compromised can trigger dangerous escalation cycles," explains Dr. Rahul Mishra, international relations expert at the University of Delhi. "The IAEA's prompt clarification serves a crucial stabilizing function in a region where nuclear tensions remain a persistent concern."