India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation to the terror massacre in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, has dealt a devastating blow to Pakistan’s air capabilities. Satellite imagery analyzed by international defense experts and media like The New York Times has confirmed the extensive destruction caused by the Indian Air Force’s precision strikes on May 7.
11 Pakistani Airbases Hit – Catastrophic Damage Confirmed: In the opening wave of Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force targeted 11 Pakistani airbases across Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan. Notable among them were the strategic Nur Khan, Valori, Rahim Yar Khan, and Sargodha bases. Satellite images show collapsed hangars, cratered runways, and submerged tarmacs, rendering several bases inoperable.
Pakistan’s Airbases Destroyed by India’s Operation Sindoor – Satellite Images Reveal Islamabad’s Heavy Losses
Nur Khan Hit: Nuclear Security in Question: Located near Rawalpindi, the Nur Khan airbase is rumored to house a portion of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. The base was heavily bombarded, and several fighter jets were destroyed. Social media buzzed with speculation about radiation leaks, although the IAEA has since confirmed no such evidence of nuclear contamination.
Runways at Rahim Yar Khan and Sargodha Rendered Useless: Imagery from these bases shows massive craters and flooding on the main runways. On May 10, the Pakistan Air Force admitted that Rahim Yar Khan’s runway was completely destroyed and “non-operational until further notice.”
Valori Airbase: Direct Missile Hit Kills 50- Near Karachi, the Valori base suffered a direct hit from an Indian air-launched missile, which obliterated a maintenance hangar. Sources report at least 50 casualties, including Squadron Leader Usman Yusuf. Explosions also destroyed several parked JF-17 Thunder aircraft.
Pakistan’s Counterclaim on Indian Base Debunked: Pakistan’s military claimed to have targeted India’s Adampur base and destroyed an S-400 system. However, satellite photos and videos from PM Modi’s May 13 visit to Adampur showed the defense installations intact, exposing the Pakistani narrative as false.
Indian Drones Took Out Pakistani Defense Systems: India reportedly used Israeli-made Harop kamikaze drones to neutralize Pakistan’s HQ-9P air defense systems near Lahore. Experts have described the drone strikes as “pinpoint accurate,” disabling vital elements of Pakistan’s air defense grid.
Pakistan’s Official Admission – But Damage Control Continues: Pakistan’s ISPR spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif acknowledged the loss of at least two JF-17s but avoided discussing the broader extent of destruction. Islamabad continues to assert it destroyed BrahMos missiles in retaliatory strikes, a claim not backed by any evidence.
Who Called for the Ceasefire? Both countries agreed to a ceasefire on May 10. Indian officials claim Pakistan’s DGMO initiated the call for de-escalation. Pakistan denies this. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar commented, “The satellite images speak for themselves. Pakistan had no choice left.”
Operation Sindoor Trigger: Pahalgam Massacre: The catalyst for Operation Sindoor was the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, which left 26 civilians and tourists dead. India launched surgical airstrikes on 9 terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. The strikes reportedly killed over 170 militants, escalating tensions rapidly.
Indus Water Treaty on the Edge: After the Pahalgam attack, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, halting the release of river water to Pakistan. Islamabad condemned the move as a “red line” violation. PM Shehbaz Sharif warned that “denying us our water rights will lead to disastrous consequences.”
Indian Defense Minister Raises Nuclear Concerns: On May 15, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh visited army units in Kashmir and remarked, “The world must now ask—how safe are nuclear weapons in the hands of a rogue state like Pakistan?” India is reportedly pushing for global monitoring of Pakistan’s nuclear facilities.