Pakistan Admits Indian Strike on Nur Khan Airbase
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has acknowledged that Indian forces struck the Nur Khan Airbase near Rawalpindi during the recent military escalation between India and Pakistan. The admission marks a rare public confirmation by a senior Pakistani official of damage to a major military installation during what India described as Operation Sindoor.
Dar made the statement while speaking about the sequence of events during the confrontation that followed a major terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir earlier this year. According to him, Indian forces carried out drone and missile strikes over a limited period, during which Pakistani air defence systems were activated to intercept incoming threats. He confirmed that at least one Indian strike impacted the Nur Khan Airbase, which is a key Pakistan Air Force facility used primarily for transport, refuelling, and logistics operations.
Details of the Military Exchange
Pakistani officials have maintained that most aerial threats were neutralised, while conceding that the Nur Khan base sustained damage. Dar described the strike as sensitive in nature, given the base’s proximity to Islamabad and its strategic importance. He said personnel were affected, though no detailed assessment of damage was shared publicly.
India launched Operation Sindoor in early May following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that killed multiple civilians. Indian authorities stated that the operation initially targeted terror infrastructure and later expanded to include select military-linked sites after escalation. Hostilities between the two countries lasted several days before both sides agreed to de-escalation.
Strategic and Diplomatic Implications
The acknowledgment comes months after Pakistan had downplayed Indian claims of successful strikes on military targets. Analysts view Dar’s remarks as a significant shift from earlier official positions. While Pakistan continues to contest India’s broader claims about the scale and impact of the operation, the confirmation of damage at Nur Khan Airbase underscores the seriousness of the exchange.
The episode is expected to add to ongoing tensions between the two neighbours, even as diplomatic channels remain largely inactive following the confrontation.
