Shehbaz Confirms Indian Strike on Nur Khan Airbase

Pakistan Blinks: Shehbaz Sharif Admits Nur Khan Airbase Was Hit in Indian Missile Strike

 

In an extraordinary admission that lays bare the precision and reach of Indian military capability, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly acknowledged that the Indian Air Force successfully struck multiple Pakistani Air Force installations, including the strategically significant Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, during the covertly executed Operation Sindoor. The confirmation comes days after conflicting statements from the Pakistani military establishment, which had sought to downplay or distort the scale of the Indian offensive.

Speaking at the 'Youm-e-Tashakur' ceremony held at the Pakistan Monument in Islamabad, Sharif recounted receiving a late-night call from the Pakistan Army Chief, General Asim Munir, at approximately 2:30am on the night of 9–10 May. “Hindustani ballistic missiles have hit Nur Khan airbase and other areas,” the Prime Minister is purported to have been told in a secured communication, revealing a rare moment of vulnerability within Pakistan’s highest military echelons.

This acknowledgement by the civilian head of the Pakistani government sharply diverges from Islamabad’s habitual reflex of denial and obfuscation in the face of Indian military actions—especially those involving precision strikes within Pakistani territory. For seasoned observers of South Asia’s volatile security theatre, this is a watershed moment.

Nur Khan Airbase, also known as Chaklala, is not merely a routine PAF facility. It holds strategic relevance as one of Pakistan’s oldest and most fortified air stations, situated adjacent to the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. It also serves as a key logistical and command hub, with proximity to the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Pakistan Army.

Sources familiar with India's strategic planning suggest that the selection of targets in Operation Sindoor was far from symbolic. Alongside Nur Khan, missiles reportedly struck Murid Airbase in Chakwal and PAF Base Rafiqui in Shorkot. Although the Pakistani military spokesperson, Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, claimed interception and downplaying of damage in a hurried pre-dawn press conference, emerging satellite imagery from reputable international providers such as Maxar Technologies paints a starkly different picture.

Imagery analysis indicates evident structural damage at not just Nur Khan, but also at PAF Base Mushaf (Sargodha), Bholari Airbase (near Karachi), and Shahbaz Airbase in Jacobabad—key installations integral to Pakistan's aerial defence and nuclear triad. Hangars, radar infrastructure, and runway systems appear impacted, suggesting a well-coordinated multi-target strike likely intended to degrade Pakistan's rapid air response capacity.

Intriguingly, in his speech, Sharif attempted to reassure the Pakistani public by invoking the use of "homegrown technology" and "modern gadgets on Chinese jets" to defend their skies. However, the very fact that a missile penetrated to the heart of Pakistan's air command raises uncomfortable questions about the efficacy of these so-called defences—many of which are based on Chinese-origin platforms like the JF-17, whose performance has long been under scrutiny.

This open admission also marks a significant shift in Pakistan's civil-military dynamics. It is no secret that Rawalpindi's GHQ has historically maintained tight control over strategic narratives, especially those involving India. For the Prime Minister to go on record about an Indian strike without the usual denials suggests either a recalibration of internal narratives or an inability to contain the fallout of irrefutable damage.

From the Indian perspective, Operation Sindoor appears to be a calibrated demonstration of both capability and intent. New Delhi has not officially commented on the strikes, adhering to its doctrine of strategic ambiguity. Yet, the silence speaks volumes—especially as the world watches a nuclear-armed neighbour forced into an uncomfortable reckoning with its vulnerabilities.

What remains to be seen is whether this admission by Shehbaz Sharif is the first step towards greater transparency in Pakistan’s strategic posture, or merely a political deflection under domestic and international pressure. Either way, the geopolitical implications for the subcontinent are profound—and unmistakably in India's favour.