Pakistan admits Indian drones hit Nur Khan airbase in Op Sindoor after months of denial

Pakistan has, for the first time, publicly detailed the scale of damage caused by Indian military strikes carried out under Operation Sindoor in May, eight months after the brief but intense armed confrontation between the two neighbours.

The admission came from Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, during a year-end press briefing last week. Dar confirmed that Indian drones struck the strategically vital Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi’s Chaklala area, damaging infrastructure and injuring personnel stationed there.

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“In 36 hours, at least 80 drones were sent,” Dar said, describing the scale of the operation. He claimed that Pakistan’s air defences intercepted 79 of them, but acknowledged that one drone struck the airbase in the early hours of May 10, as reported by NDTV.

Dar said the strike on Nur Khan airbase prompted Pakistan to launch a retaliatory operation. The base, located less than 25 kilometres from Islamabad, houses critical Pakistan Air Force assets and plays a central role in military logistics.

India had launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, 2025, following the killing of 26 civilians in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 26. The four-day conflict marked one of the most serious military escalations between the two countries in recent years.

Shift from earlier denials

Dar’s remarks mark a departure from Islamabad’s earlier public position, which had largely downplayed the impact of Indian strikes. His comments also contradicted previous assertions that Pakistani military installations had remained largely unaffected.

The report further stated that addressing diplomatic efforts during the conflict, Dar said Pakistan did not seek mediation. He claimed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio contacted him on May 10 to convey that India was prepared for a ceasefire. According to Dar, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan also reached out shortly thereafter, following which the ceasefire was finalised.

Dar reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding position that lasting peace in the region depends on resolving the Jammu and Kashmir issue. He also repeated claims that Pakistan had shot down seven Indian fighter jets during the May 7 aerial engagement, though no evidence was provided.

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The admission follows remarks by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who recently revealed that he had been advised to move to a bunker during the conflict which is an indication of the level of alarm within Pakistan’s leadership at the time.

Recent satellite imagery has shown reconstruction activity at Nur Khan airbase, further underlining the extent of damage sustained during the strikes.