Pakistan Admits Damage to Key Airbase from India's Operation Sindoor Strikes

In a significant departure from its previous denials, Pakistan has openly acknowledged the effectiveness of Indian precision strikes on a major military facility during the brief but intense conflict in May 2025.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that Indian forces deployed over 80 drones in a 36-hour period, successfully hitting the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi's Chaklala area. He claimed Pakistan intercepted 79 of them, but confirmed that one caused damage to the installation and injured personnel.

Dar described the early morning strike on May 10 as a "miscalculation" by India, which he said triggered Pakistan's counteractions. This marks a clear shift from Islamabad's earlier efforts to minimise the impact of India's Operation Sindoor.

The operation was launched on May 7 in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where militants killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists. India targeted terrorist infrastructure initially, with strikes escalating to military sites after Pakistani responses.

Dar also asserted that Pakistan downed seven Indian aircraft during aerial engagements, though without presenting evidence, and maintained that regional stability hinges on resolving the Kashmir issue.

In a separate address, President Asif Ali Zardari disclosed that his military secretary urged him to seek shelter in a bunker as strikes commenced, advice he rejected, stating leaders face dangers openly. Zardari claimed he had foreseen the escalation days in advance.

Recent satellite imagery has shown ongoing repairs at the Nur Khan base, a critical Pakistan Air Force asset near the capital, highlighting the lasting effects of the Indian action.

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