Pakistan Admits Indian Drone Strikes Hit Nur Khan Base During Op Sindoor

Pakistan has, for the first time, publicly acknowledged damage to its strategically vital Nur Khan Airbase following Indian strikes carried out during Operation Sindoor in May.

The admission came during a year-end briefing on December 27, when Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said India launched a large-scale drone offensive targeting Pakistani military infrastructure over a 36-hour period.

Dar stated that more than 80 drones were launched by India, of which 79 were intercepted by Pakistan’s air defence systems. He conceded that at least one drone struck a military installation, causing damage and injuries to personnel at the Nur Khan base in Rawalpindi’s Chaklala area. The base is considered one of the most sensitive installations of the Pakistan Air Force due to its proximity to military headquarters and the capital.

The statement marks a significant departure from Pakistan’s earlier stance, which had either denied or minimised the impact of Indian strikes during the escalation. Dar also revealed that Pakistan’s civil and military leadership, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, convened an emergency meeting on the night of May 9 to assess the situation and authorise response measures.

India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7 in response to the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which left 26 civilians dead. The operation initially targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir before expanding to military infrastructure.

Indian assessments indicate that at least 11 Pakistani air bases were targeted during the operation, including facilities in Sargodha, Rafiqui, Jacobabad and Muridke.

Reacting to Dar’s remarks, Indian Army veteran KJS Dhillon questioned Pakistan’s claim of limited damage, citing reports of large-scale casualties and videos allegedly showing fires engulfing the Nur Khan base.

Pakistan’s leadership has previously hinted at the strikes. Shehbaz Sharif has said Army Chief Asim Munir informed him of the Nur Khan attack during the night of May 9–10. In July, senior Pakistani officials also acknowledged that Islamabad had only seconds to assess whether incoming projectiles carried nuclear warheads, underlining the escalation risks.

Dar further claimed that Pakistan did not seek mediation, but said diplomatic outreach by the United States and Saudi Arabia helped facilitate the May 10 ceasefire, bringing the four-day military confrontation to an end.