
Chinese Satellite Image Shows Damage To Pakistan's Nur Khan Airbase After India's Precision Strike
Last Updated:
India's strike on Nur Khan airbase, located in Rawalpindi and close to the army's HQ, was a strategic and symbolic blow as it is the nerve centre of Pakistan's air mobility command
Precision strikes by the Indian Air Force on Pakistan's Nur Khan airbase disabled infrastructure and ground support vehicles at the site. An image released by a Chinese satellite firm, MIZAZVISION, shows the damage caused to the military installation under India's Operation Sindoor between May 8 and 10.
The Indian strike on the Nur Khan airbase – located in Rawalpindi and close to Pakistan Army's headquarters – was a strategic and symbolic blow to Pakistan as it serves as the headquarters of its air mobility command. It further exposes gaps in the neighbouring country's air defence system (ADS) and its inability to defend this high-value target.
Imagery released by a Chinese satellite firm (MIZAZVISION) helps spotlight damage at Pakistan's Nur Khan Airbase – the Indian Air Force precision strike appears to have focused on disabling infrastructure & ground support vehicles present on site at the time pic.twitter.com/f4q2OTinCp — Damien Symon (@detresfa_) May 11, 2025
Top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that Nur Khan houses critical assets like Saab Erieye airborne early warning systems, C-130 transporters and IL-78 refuelling aircraft.
The sources said these systems are vital for surveillance, logistics, and aerial coordination, especially in cross-border operations. The base is central to Pakistan's drone warfare campaigns, they said.
They said it is used for the launch of Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 and indigenous Shahpar-I drones targeting India. The airbase is also used for training elite pilots and hosting VIP fleets like the presidential aircraft, they added.
More satellite images released by an Indian firm, KAWASPACE, show damage to Pakistan's Bholari airbase after Indian strikes.
Imagery released by an Indian firm (KAWASPACE) spotlights damage at Pakistan's Bholari Airbase – the Indian Air Force strike appears to have severely damaged a hangar, debris visible along with structural damage, runway proximity = possible quick reaction role for the hangar (?) pic.twitter.com/YC0Dg61d8e — Damien Symon (@detresfa_) May 11, 2025
On Saturday (May 10), after India's strike on the Rahim Yar Khan airbase in Pakistan's Punjab province, its sole runway was declared non-operational for a week. A 'notice to airmen' (NOTAM) by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) stated that this will remain closed till 4.59 am Pakistan time (5.29 IST) on May 18.
Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!
First Published:
May 11, 2025, 16:34 IST
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
10 minutes ago
- Time of India
China silent about lifting export curbs on rare earth metals amid growing concerns in India, world
China, which holds the global monopoly over the precious rare earth metals needed for manufacturing of phones, automobiles and missiles, continues to play hardball over lifting export restrictions of the precious metals warding off pressures from a host of countries, including, the US, EU and India. "China's export control measures are consistent with universal practices," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said responding to a question during a media briefing here on Thursday that Japanese automaker Suzuki has suspended production of its main small cars in Japan because of delays due to rare earth restrictions. "Such measures are non-discriminatory and not targeted at any particular country," he said, adding that the question should be directed to competent authorities. This is the second-time this week that Lin deflected a question on the growing global concerns over the restrictions over exports of Chinese rare earth metals. On Tuesday, he evaded a question about reports that executives and representatives of the car industry in Europe, the US and India expressed concern that China's rare earth export controls are creating the risk of shortages that could lead to the stoppages in production soon, saying that the question should be addressed to competent authorities. Reports from Tokyo on Thursday said Suzuki Motor halted production of its Swift model cars in Japan from May 26 due to China's rare earth restrictions. Reports in recent weeks from India too spoke of growing concerns among the automobile manufactures about scarcity about rare earth magnets, which are critical components in electric vehicles (EVs) and even some parts of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. Also, China's export restrictions of the rare earths specially germanium, a critical mineral that is used in manufacturing of semiconductors, fibre optic cables and solar panels, has sparked concerns in India among the respective industries. Officials of India as well as many other countries say they are engaged with the concerned ministries and departments. Rare earths are a group of metals consisting of 17 elements. Though present in several counties, their extraction is costly and messy causing massive amounts of pollution. According to the International Energy Agency, currently China accounts for 61 per cent of global mined rare earth production, but controls 92 per cent of the global output. China's exports restrictions of rare earths which were imposed in June last year through a decree by Premier Li Qiang reportedly became stricter since US President Donald Trump imposed 146 per cent tariffs on Chinese exports. This week, the European Union (EU) urged China to stop restricting the export of rare earth minerals and magnets, with the bloc's trade chief saying its industries are in an "alarming situation", the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Thursday. The request was made during a meeting between the sides' top commerce officials in Paris on Tuesday. It comes as sectors across Europe raise the alarm about a shortage of rare earths, which are used to manufacture hi-tech goods ranging from electric cars and smartphones to military tanks and aircraft. "I informed my Chinese counterpart about the alarming situation in the European car industry, but I would say industry as such because clearly rare earths and permanent magnets are absolutely essential for industrial production," EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said on Wednesday, briefing reporters a day after his meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.


Time of India
10 minutes ago
- Time of India
Auto companies face shortages due to China's rare earth restrictions
Automakers and their suppliers are facing shortages due to restrictions on Chinese exports of rare earths, minerals and magnets, an issue that has forced some to shut down production of certain models. Rare earth magnets are used in motors that run electric vehicles and other car parts such as windows and audio speakers. These companies have paused production or warned shortages were affecting their supply chains: PRODUCTION SUSPENDED Ford shut down production of its Explorer SUV at its Chicago plant for a week in May because of the rare earths shortage. Suzuki Motor suspended production of its flagship Swift subcompact from May 26, citing a shortage of components. It expects a partial restart on June 13, with full resumption after June 16. Two people familiar with the matter said the suspension was due to China's restrictions. Suzuki declined to comment on the reason. Several European auto supplier plants and production lines have been shut down because of a rare earth shortage, Europe's auto supplier association CLEPA said on June 4. SUPPLY CHAIN CONCERNS Indian automaker Bajaj Auto warned that any further delays in securing the supply of rare earth magnets from China could "seriously impact" EV production by July. Auto parts maker Bosch said bottlenecks in the supply of rare earths were affecting its suppliers, who had to furnish a lot of detailed information to get export licences. BMW said a part of its supplier network was affected by the shortage, but that its own plants were running as normal. Maruti Suzuki India's top-selling carmaker, said there was no immediate impact, and that it was in talks with the government on the matter. German auto supplier ZF said it sees the effect of a rare earths shortage on some of its suppliers, although it does not procure the raw materials itself.


Hindustan Times
11 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Mehul Choksi's bank accounts, shares attached by Sebi over ₹2.1 crore dues
Markets regulator Sebi has ordered the attachment of bank accounts and shares and mutual fund holdings of absconding diamantaire Mehul Choksi to recover dues totalling ₹2.1 crore in a case of violation of insider trading rules in the shares of Gitanjali Gems. The latest move followed a demand notice issued to Choksi on May 15, warning attachment of assets as well as bank accounts if he failed to make the payment within 15 days. The demand notice came after Choksi failed to pay the fine imposed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in January 2022 in a case of violation of insider trading rules in the shares of Gitanjali Gems Ltd. Choksi, who was the chairman and managing director as well as part of promoter group of Gitanjali Gems, is the maternal uncle of Nirav Modi. Both are facing charges of defrauding state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) of more than ₹14,000 crore. Both Choksi and Modi fled India after the PNB scam came to light in early 2018. In April, Choksi was arrested in Belgium following an extradition request by Indian probe agencies. He was located in Belgium last year when he went there for getting medical treatment. He had been staying in Antigua since 2018 after leaving India. Modi was arrested by the Scotland Yard Police in March 2019 and is currently in jail in that country. In an attachment notice dated June 4, Sebi said the pending dues of ₹2.1 crore include the initial fine of ₹1.5 crore and interest of ₹60 lakh. To recover the dues, Sebi asked all the banks, depositories -- CDSL and NSDL -- and mutual funds not to allow any debit from the accounts of Choksi. However, credits have been permitted. Further, Sebi has directed the banks to attach all accounts, including lockers, held by the defaulter. Initiating the recovery proceedings, Sebi said there is sufficient reason to believe that Choksi may dispose of the amounts in the bank accounts, mutual fund folios and securities in the demat accounts held with the depositories and "realisation of the amount due under the certificate would, in consequence, be delayed or obstructed". In its order passed in January 2022, the regulator imposed a penalty of ₹1.5 crore on Choksi and restrained him from the securities market for one year. Sebi had found that Choksi communicated unpublished price sensitive information to one Rakesh Girdharlal Gajera, who sold his entire shareholding of 5.75 per cent in Gitanjali Gems in December 2017 with the intention of avoiding loss ahead of any event which may lead to disclosure of fraudulent issuance of LoUs (letter of undertaking) to Gitanjali Group and magnitude in public domain. It was noted that fraudulent LoUs were issued on behalf of entities belonging to the Gitanjali Group, including GGL. "Noticee no. 1 (Choksi) was found to have communicated UPSI (unpublished price sensitive information) to Noticee no. 2 (Gajera) without any underlying legal obligation or any legitimate purpose," Sebi had said in its final order. Through such activities, the two persons had violated the provisions of the PIT (Prohibition of Insider Trading) rules. In May 2023, Sebi sent a notice to Choksi directing him to pay ₹5.35 crore in a case pertaining to fraudulent trading in the shares of Gitanjali Gems.