New Delhi: India successfully targeted four significant Pakistani airbases overnight, causing substantial damage to military facilities and resources, according to government sources on Saturday. The airbases hit include Nur Khan in Rawalpindi, Murid in Chakwal, and Rafiqui in Shorkot.
The following are the specifics regarding the Pakistani airbases targeted by India during the strikes:
NUR KHAN AIR BASE, RAWALPINDI
Situated merely 10 kilometers from Islamabad, Nur Khan Air Base is among Pakistan’s most critical military installations, facilitating both air force missions and VIP transportation. Previously referred to as Chaklala Air Base, it has been instrumental in historical conflicts, notably during the wars of 1965 and 1971.
The base is equipped for aerial refueling and transport operations and houses five to six elite transport squadrons, including aircraft utilized by high-ranking political and military officials. Additionally, the PAF College Chaklala, which trains future leaders of the air force, is located here. India’s strike on Nur Khan demonstrated that even Pakistan’s most secure facilities are vulnerable.
MURID AIR BASE, CHAKWAL
Located in the Chakwal district, Murid Air Base has recently become a center for drone operations aimed at India. It accommodates several squadrons of the Pakistani Air Force that operate advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), such as the Shahpar-1 and Bayraktar TB2.
The base is essential to Pakistan’s drone warfare strategy, facilitating surveillance, offensive operations, and intelligence collection. The Indian airstrike is perceived as a direct reaction to numerous drones launched from this site.
RAFIQUI AIR BASE, SHORKOT, named in honor of 1965 war hero Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui, is home to several squadrons of JF-17 and Mirage fighter jets, as well as utility helicopters. Reports indicate that JF-17 aircraft were key assets in the recent assaults on India. Its strategic location in central Punjab allows for rapid deployment to both the eastern and western fronts, and its infrastructure is crucial to Pakistan’s air defense system.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have significantly increased following Indian forces’ precision strikes on terrorist launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7, which came after a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22 that resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, primarily tourists.
