Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly acknowledged that Indian missiles struck key military sites within Pakistan, including the Nur Khan Air Base, on May 7. This admission is a notable departure from Pakistan's typical denial of Indian military actions. Sharif stated that he was awakened at 2:30 AM by Army Chief General Asim Munir, who informed him of the strikes.
Sharif's confirmation came during a speech in Islamabad. Amit Malviya, head of the BJP's National IT Department, shared a video of Sharif's statement on social media, emphasizing the "boldness and efficiency" of what India has called "Operation Sindoor". Malviya highlighted the fact that the Pakistani Prime Minister was "woken up in the middle of the night with news of strikes deep inside Pakistan".
The Indian strikes, according to reports, were a response to the deadly April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people. India attributed the attack to Pakistan-based groups and vowed retaliation. Following the Indian strikes, Pakistan reportedly attempted retaliatory drone and missile strikes on Indian military bases over the next three days.
Pakistani military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that the Indian missiles targeted four locations in Punjab and two in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. According to Chaudhry, one of the strikes hit a mosque compound near Bahawalpur, resulting in casualties, including a three-year-old girl. Other locations targeted included Muridke, a village near Sialkot, and Shakar Garh, all in Punjab.
India claimed that "Operation Sindoor" targeted nine sites with "terrorist infrastructure". Pakistan, in response, scrambled its jets and claimed to have shot down five Indian planes, a claim that India has not confirmed.
The Nur Khan Air Base, also known as PAF Chaklala, is a vital hub for Pakistan's Air Mobility Command. It houses critical assets such as Saab Erieye airborne early warning systems, C-130 transport aircraft, and IL-78 aerial refueling tankers.
Former Air Marshal Masood Akhtar confirmed that an Indian missile strike destroyed a Pakistani AWACS aircraft at Bholari airbase. Akhtar explained that Indian forces launched multiple BrahMos missiles, and despite Pakistani pilots' attempts to secure their aircraft, one of the missiles hit the hangar, damaging the AWACS.
The recent escalation marks a significant moment in India-Pakistan relations, with the conflict resulting in the deadliest exchanges in decades. For the first time since 1971, India targeted Pakistan's Punjab province, prompting retaliatory strikes from Pakistan on Indian states including Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. These strikes, involving both drones and missiles, targeted military installations in Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi in Pakistan, as well as air bases in Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, and Bhuj in India.
Tensions remain high between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with the potential for further escalation. The United States brokered a ceasefire on May 10, but differing narratives and accusations continue to fuel the conflict.
