The Indian Air Force (IAF) has delivered a stunning blow to Pakistan’s military infrastructure, targeting and severely damaging multiple air bases in a meticulously executed operation on Saturday morning. Sources confirm that the IAF’s strikes hit key Pakistani Air Force (PAF) facilities, including Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, PAF Rafiqi Air Base in Shorkot, Murid Air Base in Chakwal, and drone launchpad sites, significantly disrupting Pakistan’s air defense capabilities. The operation, an extension of India’s “Operation Sindoor,” is being hailed as a demonstration of the IAF’s unmatched dominance in the region.
The strikes come amid escalating tensions following a terrorist attack on April 22 in India-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists. India has accused Pakistan of supporting the attack, a charge Islamabad denies. According to Indian defense sources, the IAF deployed advanced Rafale jets, armed with precision-guided SCALP missiles and AASM Hammer glide bombs, to neutralize strategic targets. Posts on X and reports from India Today indicate that India also destroyed Pakistani air defense systems and drone launch facilities, further crippling Pakistan’s ability to respond.
Pakistan’s military, however, claims that all PAF assets remain safe, with Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) asserting that Indian missiles failed to cause significant damage. Despite these claims, visuals verified by The Washington Post and other outlets show debris consistent with Indian fighter jets, suggesting Pakistan may have downed some IAF aircraft during earlier engagements on May 7. India has not confirmed these losses, maintaining that its strikes were “focused and measured” to avoid civilian casualties.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described the operation as a necessary response to Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. “India will not tolerate threats to its sovereignty,” Misri said in a press briefing. The strikes targeted nine locations, including militant camps in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab province, with no Pakistani military facilities directly hit, according to India’s Ministry of Defense.
The operation has sparked mixed reactions. On X, Indian users celebrated the IAF’s prowess, with posts declaring “Jai Hind” and praising the strikes as a decisive blow to Pakistan’s military. Others expressed concern over the risk of escalation, noting Pakistan’s retaliatory operation, “Bunyan al-Marsus,” launched on Saturday, which targeted Indian military sites, including a missile storage facility in northern India. International leaders, including the G7 and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have urged both nations to exercise restraint and pursue dialogue to prevent a full-scale conflict.
Analysts warn that the destruction of Pakistani air bases, if confirmed, could shift the regional power balance, with India’s advanced weaponry and strategic planning outmatching Pakistan’s defenses. However, Pakistan’s reported use of Chinese-made J-10 jets to down Indian aircraft earlier in the week suggests a resilient counter-capability. As both nations exchange accusations of drone and missile attacks, the situation remains volatile, with commercial airlines avoiding Pakistani airspace and civilians on both sides bracing for further hostilities.
The IAF’s operation underscores India’s resolve to counter perceived threats, but the specter of nuclear escalation looms large. As Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convenes Pakistan’s National Command Authority to discuss its nuclear arsenal, the world watches anxiously, hoping diplomacy can avert a broader catastrophe.
