Pakistan Confirms Indian Strikes on Nur Khan Base During Operation Sindoor

'80 drones in 36 hrs': Pak's big admission on Op Sindoor; confirms damage to Nur Khan base

In a geopolitical bombshell rarely seen in South Asian diplomacy, Pakistan has officially acknowledged that India’s **Operation Sindoor** inflicted tangible damage on one of its most critical military installations—the Nur Khan Air Base near Rawalpindi. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s confirmation, echoing earlier statements by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, marks a dramatic departure from Islamabad’s usual posture of blanket denial following cross-border military actions .

The admission comes alongside startling details: over a **36-hour window**, Indian forces launched approximately **80 drone sorties** combined with precision missile strikes, targeting multiple Pakistani air bases. Commercial satellite imagery now corroborates visible damage to aircraft hangars, radar installations, and perimeter infrastructure at Nur Khan—a hub for Pakistan Air Force (PAF) operations and nuclear-capable aircraft .

This development isn’t just about military bragging rights. It signals a new chapter in India-Pakistan deterrence dynamics—one where strategic transparency, digital evidence, and calibrated escalation are reshaping the rules of engagement.

Table of Contents

What Is Operation Sindoor?

**Operation Sindoor**—named after the red vermilion worn by married Hindu women, symbolizing both sanctity and resolve—was India’s retaliatory military response to the April 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 civilians. While India initially disclosed limited details, subsequent disclosures by Pakistani officials and open-source intelligence have painted a clearer picture.

Unlike past surgical strikes, Operation Sindoor relied heavily on **swarm drone tactics**, loitering munitions, and standoff-range ballistic missiles to neutralize high-value targets deep inside Pakistani territory—without committing ground troops .

The operation’s success lay in its precision, speed, and deniability—hallmarks of modern hybrid warfare.

Pakistan’s Unprecedented Admission

Historically, Pakistan has dismissed or downplayed Indian cross-border operations. But this time, the narrative shifted dramatically.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif first broke the silence, stating in a National Assembly address that “unprecedented drone incursions” had caused “limited but real damage” at multiple air bases . Days later, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar doubled down, confirming that the Nur Khan Air Base—home to PAF’s No. 32 and No. 11 squadrons—sustained injuries to personnel and infrastructure .

Why the change? Analysts suggest three reasons:

  • Irrefutable Evidence: Commercial satellite firms like Planet Labs and Maxar published high-resolution images showing craters, scorched tarmac, and damaged hangars—making denial impossible.
  • Domestic Pressure: Pakistani opposition parties demanded transparency after local media reported explosions near Rawalpindi.
  • Strategic Signaling: Admitting limited damage may be an attempt to avoid appearing weak while subtly warning against future escalation.

Satellite Evidence: Damage to Nur Khan Air Base

Independent analysts from the Asia-Pacific Foundation for Security cross-referenced pre- and post-strike satellite imagery and found:

  • Two aircraft hangars with collapsed roofs and fire damage.
  • A destroyed radar van near the runway’s southern edge.
  • Shrapnel impact zones consistent with ballistic missile warheads.
  • Increased vehicle traffic and temporary fencing—indicative of emergency repairs .

Nur Khan isn’t just any base. It’s a forward operating location for F-16s and JF-17 Thunder jets—and is within striking distance of India’s northern command centers. Damage here directly impacts Pakistan’s rapid-response capability.

[INTERNAL_LINK:india-pakistan-military-escalation] This incident underscores how drone warfare is redefining traditional air power in the subcontinent.

The 80-Drone Campaign: Tactics and Technology

Pakistan’s claim of “80 drones in 36 hours” may sound exaggerated—but experts say it’s plausible given India’s arsenal:

1. Swarming Drones

India likely deployed indigenously developed systems like the ALFA-S loitering munition—capable of autonomous swarm attacks that overwhelm radar and air defenses.

2. Decoy and Strike Coordination

Not all 80 drones were armed. Many were likely decoys designed to saturate Pakistani air defense radar, creating openings for missile strikes from BrahMos or Prahaar systems.

3. Electronic Warfare Support

Reports suggest India used electronic jamming to blind early-warning systems at Nur Khan, allowing drones to penetrate deeper before detection.

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), “Operation Sindoor represents one of the most sophisticated uses of unmanned systems in a real-world inter-state conflict to date” .

Strategic Impact on India-Pakistan Relations

This episode has far-reaching implications:

  • Deterrence Credibility: India has demonstrated it can strike deep inside Pakistan with minimal risk—raising the cost of future proxy attacks.
  • Drone Arms Race: Both nations are now fast-tracking drone development, with Pakistan reportedly seeking Turkish TB2s and India accelerating its Ghatak stealth drone program.
  • Global Attention: The U.S. State Department has called for “restraint,” while China has urged “dialogue”—highlighting how regional powers are now watching drone warfare as a new flashpoint.

For deeper insights on emerging drone doctrines in South Asia, see this report from [EXTERNAL_LINK:https://www.iiss.org/].

Conclusion: A New Era of Asymmetric Deterrence

Pakistan’s confirmation of damage from **Operation Sindoor** is more than a tactical admission—it’s a strategic inflection point. By acknowledging the strike, Islamabad implicitly validates India’s new doctrine of “precision deterrence,” where credibility stems not from nuclear brinkmanship, but from the ability to deliver calibrated, deniable, and devastating conventional blows.

As drone technology becomes cheaper and smarter, the Line of Control may no longer be the only frontier of conflict. The skies above it—and the data that documents what happens there—are now the new battlegrounds. Operation Sindoor may well be remembered not just for what it destroyed, but for how it rewrote the rules of war in South Asia.

Sources

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