What is a 'nuke-sniffer'? What was it doing along India and Pakistan coastlines?

US Air Force Boeing WC-135 Constant Phoenix (Nuke Sniffer) was spotted at least twice this past week flying along the coastlines of India and Pakistan — two nuclear-powered nations in South Asia.

What is a nuke sniffer?

A nuke-sniffer is an atmospheric collection aircraft, which is developed by Boeing for the US Air Force (USAF). It conducts air-sampling operations, supporting the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963. The treaty is aimed at prohibiting any country from testing nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater.

Significance of the nuke sniffer?

The presence of a nuke sniffer is significant, especially along the coast of Karachi as it happened just a few days after the Dera Ghazi Khan blast in Pakistan and the nation's nuclear research site is in the neighbourhood.

A powerful explosion rocked the Dera Ghazi Khan region on Oct 6. Some hailing from Pakistan's Southern Punjab Province even claimed on social media that they heard a "sonic boom".

A few Pakistan-based media reports said that the sound from the explosion was heard as far as 25 kilometres away from Dera Ghazi Khan as it apparently reached the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

However, the reason behind the reported blast remains unknown. Several videos were circulated on social media platform X, which showed people vacating the area even as rescue teams and police personnel were moving around.

Posts on social media claimed that the nuclear-sniffer plane made its presence once again — just four days after it was first spotted.

The report claimed that during its second visit, its focus was especially on Karachi.

What did the authorities say about blast?

Pakistan authorities said that the sound of a loud explosion could be due to a sonic boom as there was no information of a bombing incident or an act of sabotage.

In a video statement on social media, DG Khan Commissioner Nasir Mehmood, said that an "explosion was heard in the city at noon" but all the security agencies and eyewitnesses refuted reports of any bomb blast or other incident.

"The departments concerned have said that no such incident took place in DG Khan or adjoining areas," he said.

The Commissioner also said that noise was likely caused by the "breakage of sound barrier", adding that such incidents were "normal".

In a separate statement, DG Khan Commissioner's spokesperson Mazhar Sheerani confirmed that a loud explosion was heard in the city.

"The departments concerned have presented an initial report after investigation," he said, further adding that there were no reports of any kind of terrorism, vandalism, accident, or damage as per Rescue 1122, police, sensitive institutions or the public.

He also said that there was a strong possibility of a sound barrier broken by a jet and also stated that no loss of life or any other damage was reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

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