For an extended period, Pakistan consistently denied suffering any significant damage from India's 'Operation Sindoor', while this denial was repeatedly echoed by Pakistan on international platforms, aiming to downplay the effectiveness of India's military action and maintain a narrative of invincibility. However, in a major reversal, Pakistan's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Ishaq Dar, has now publicly acknowledged that their Noor Khan Airbase was indeed damaged during the Indian military operation.
This admission directly contradicts previous official statements from Pakistan, which had repeatedly dismissed claims of damage from Indian strikes. The revelation, coming from a high-ranking official like Ishaq Dar, represents a significant diplomatic setback for Pakistan and casts a serious shadow over its credibility on the international stage. It indicates that Pakistan is now unable to sustain its previous. False narrative and has finally been compelled to accept the truth. This development also underscores the precision of India's military power and. Intelligence, which successfully targeted crucial military installations deep within Pakistani territory.
Noor Khan Airbase Sustains Significant Damage
The Indian military action, dubbed 'Operation Sindoor', was launched in response to a heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which tragically resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, while following this devastating incident, India resolved to take stringent and decisive measures to curb terrorism emanating from across the border. The Indian government made it clear that it would go to any lengths to protect its sovereignty and the lives of its citizens, while consequently, 'Operation Sindoor' was initiated on the night of May 7, with the explicit objective of targeting terror launch pads and their supporting military infrastructure within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). This operation Notably escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, posing a serious threat to regional peace and stability. Pakistan also made some unsuccessful attempts to retaliate, but these efforts were largely thwarted. Ultimately, to de-escalate the rising tensions, a ceasefire was agreed upon between the two countries on May 10, which brought a degree of calm to the volatile situation.
During a year-end press briefing on Saturday, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that India had targeted the Noor Khan Airbase, located in Chaklala, Rawalpindi. The Noor Khan Airbase is a critical strategic installation for the Pakistan Air Force, and an attack on it's considered a major blow to Pakistan's military capabilities, while dar elaborated that the attack caused substantial damage to military installations at the airbase and resulted in injuries to several personnel stationed there. He also emphasized the scale and accuracy of this action, implicitly acknowledging the impressive capabilities of the Indian forces. Dar further disclosed that India had dispatched multiple drones into Pakistani territory within a 36-hour window, while according to his statement, out of approximately 80 drones sent, 79 were successfully intercepted, but one managed to inflict damage on a military establishment. This admission lends significant credence to India's claims of having carried out precise and effective strikes.
High-Level Meeting of Pakistan's Leadership
Providing further details on the sequence of events, Ishaq Dar revealed that on the night of May 9,. A crucial meeting of Pakistan's civilian and military leadership was convened under the chairmanship of then-Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This high-stakes meeting was specifically called to assess the grave situation that had arisen in the aftermath of India's 'Operation Sindoor' and to formulate a strategic response. During this gathering, several critical decisions were approved, taking into account the gravity of the prevailing circumstances, which pertained to Pakistan's national security and potential retaliatory measures. The meeting included top military commanders, intelligence chiefs, and key cabinet ministers, underscoring the delicate nature of the situation at the time, while the very fact that such a high-level meeting was convened serves as proof of the profound impact of India's strikes and the seriousness with which Pakistan had to consider its implications.
Nine Terror Launch Pads Targeted by India
Dar's statement also implicitly confirmed the strategic actions undertaken by India's armed forces against Pakistani military installations in May, while under 'Operation Sindoor', India targeted a total of nine terror launch pads situated in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). These targeted locations included sites from which terrorist activities against India were orchestrated and supported. The Pakistan Air Force's Noor Khan Airbase in Chaklala was among the key installations that suffered severe damage during these precision strikes. The objective of India's action was to send a clear and unequivocal message to Pakistan that it wouldn't tolerate terrorism operating from its soil. These strikes also dealt a significant blow to Pakistan's terror network, impacting their operational capabilities and infrastructure.
Satellite Imagery Corroborates Damage Claims
Further corroboration of the damage came on May 13, when satellite images acquired. From Maxar Technologies revealed extensive damage to several Pakistani airbases, including Noor Khan Airbase. These images independently supported India's claims and effectively debunked Pakistan's earlier denials. The satellite imagery distinctly showed damage to four Pakistani airbases: Noor Khan Airbase in. Rawalpindi, PAF Base Mushaf in Sargodha, Bholari Airbase, and PAF Base Shahbaz in Jacobabad. A comparative analysis of satellite images taken on April 25 and May 10 clearly depicted the damage inflicted upon the airbase facilities, thereby confirming the severity and extent of the attacks on Noor Khan Airbase. These images exposed Pakistan's false claims to the international community and validated the accuracy of India's military operations.
Previous Admission by Prime Minister Sharif
This isn't the first instance where a top Pakistani official has acknowledged the Indian strikes on Noor Khan Airbase. Earlier in May, then-Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also conceded that Indian ballistic missiles had impacted Noor Khan Airbase and other targets on May 10, while such an admission was a rare occurrence, as Pakistan typically tends to deny any damage from Indian military actions, often to save face internationally and domestically. Pakistan's consistent stance of denial has often harmed its international image and credibility. These successive acknowledgments from high-ranking Pakistani officials definitively validate the success of India's 'Operation Sindoor' and the actual extent of the damage sustained by Pakistan. This development marks a significant shift in Pakistan's foreign policy, where it has been forced to retract its previous position and acknowledge the truth.
