Indian Air Strikes Hit Pakistan Military’s Heart: The Story of Nur Khan Airbase Operation
(Form Our Correspondent)
India’s retaliatory airstrikes on Pakistan’s Nur Khan Airbase on May 10, 2025, have delivered a significant strategic message to Islamabad and Rawalpindi, marking a key victory due to the base’s crucial role in Pakistan’s Air Mobility Command and proximity to the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters (GHQ).
The decision to launch the strikes, named Operation Sindoor, was finalized during a high-level meeting in Delhi on May 9, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Key attendees included Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, and Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh. NSA Ajit Doval notably supported Air Chief Marshal Singh’s recommendation, giving the final go-ahead for the operation.
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh handpicked his most skilled pilots for the mission, underscoring its importance. According to Indian military sources and eyewitness reports on social media, the targeted strikes successfully impacted Nur Khan Airbase.
Amid the strikes, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Munir sought shelter in a bunker before relocating to a secure location. Desperately seeking to halt Indian actions, Pakistan appealed to the international community, including the United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio communicated directly with General Munir and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the morning of May 10.
Later that day, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed Pakistan’s request for dialogue through military channels. Misri stated, “The Director General of Military Operations of Pakistan contacted his Indian counterpart at 1535 IST, agreeing to halt all military actions across land, air, and sea from 1700 IST.”
All Indian pilots involved in Operation Sindoor safely returned to base, Indian authorities confirmed. Pakistan acknowledged the loss of 11 military personnel during their earlier aggression against India, prompting India’s decisive response.
Operation Sindoor was initiated by India on May 7 following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, carried out by Pakistani terrorists on April 22, which killed 26 civilians targeted based on their religion.