In a rare and striking admission, the Government of Pakistan has publicly acknowledged that India’s military operation Operation Sindoor in May this year caused damage to the Nur Khan Airbase, one of the country’s most strategic military installations near Rawalpindi. The revelation came from senior Pakistani leadership during year-end briefings, marking a clear shift from earlier denials about the extent of Indian strikes on Pakistani territory.
Speaking at a press briefing in late December, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that India’s offensive involved a sustained drone campaign that targeted Pakistani airspace and infrastructure around May 7-10, 2025. Dar said that approximately 80 drones were launched toward Pakistani positions over a 36-hour period and that while Pakistan’s defence systems reportedly intercepted 79 of them, one successfully struck the Nur Khan Airbase, causing structural damage and injuries to personnel.
Located in the Chaklala area of Rawalpindi, Nur Khan has long been regarded as a critical Pakistan Air Force facility, hosting transport squadrons, mobility assets, and key logistical operations due to its proximity to Pakistan’s military command centres and capital Islamabad. The official acknowledgment of damage to the base underscores the sensitive nature of the strikes and the scale of India’s precision engagement during the four-day conflict.
Shift in Official Narrative
The admission represents a notable departure from Pakistan’s earlier public stance. In the months following Operation Sindoor, Islamabad had largely downplayed reports of infrastructure damage, asserting robust interception efforts and minimal losses. Satellite imagery shared by third-party analysts in the months after the conflict suggested that multiple Pakistani airbases, including Nur Khan, sustained visible structural impact, though Islamabad initially refrained from confirming the specifics of such damage.
Dar framed the acknowledgment as part of a broader account of Pakistan’s response during the crisis, stating that civil and military leadership convened emergency deliberations when the strikes occurred in early May. He characterised India’s attack on Nur Khan as a “mistake” that prompted Pakistan’s own military responses.
Broader Context of Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7, 2025, in retaliation for a militant attack in the Pahalgam area of Jammu and Kashmir that resulted in civilian casualties. The operation involved precision strikes against designated terrorist infrastructure and, according to Indian authorities, also targeted select military assets that supported such groups. The engagement led to heightened tensions along the India–Pakistan border and was followed by efforts from both sides to halt hostilities.
Nur Khan’s strategic value is immense as it is situated close to Pakistan’s General Headquarters and nuclear command centres, which makes its exposure to damage during such operations particularly noteworthy. The acknowledgment from Pakistani leadership not only confirms the base’s involvement in the conflict narrative but also highlights a rare instance of Islamabad conceding the extent of Indian military actions that struck deep into Pakistani territory.
Sources:
• Pakistan admits Indian drones hit Nur Khan Airbase during Operation Sindoor – The Federal (via The Federal Focus)
• Pakistan confirms Indian missiles struck Nur Khan Air Base in May during Operation Sindoor – Asian News Network
