After Indian missile blitz, Pakistan weighs shifting Army HQ from Chaklala to Islamabad: Reports
Pakistan is weighing a relocation of its Army General Headquarters (GHQ) from Chaklala, Rawalpindi, to Islamabad after Indian precision strikes hit the Nur Khan airbase on May 10. Satellite imagery confirmed structural damage, raising alarms within Pakistan's military. The Nur Khan base—adjacent to GHQ—houses critical air force assets and nuclear command systems. Sources suggest the move is intended to reduce vulnerability, but Indian officials view it as a sign of strategic weakness amid an escalating standoff between the two nuclear neighbours.
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Satellite images confirm damage at critical base
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General Munir moved to bunker, VIP security tightened
Strategic shockwaves: More than a tactical strike
Indian officials: GHQ move a sign of desperation
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Pakistan is reportedly considering relocating its Army General Headquarters (GHQ) from Chaklala in Rawalpindi to Islamabad. This decision follows Indian Air Force strikes on the Nur Khan airbase on 10 May, which caused visible structural damage. Intelligence sources confirmed the plan and linked it directly to the rising security concerns surrounding the existing GHQ location.Nur Khan airbase, situated just 10 kilometres from Islamabad, is a strategic military site. It sits beside Pakistan's GHQ and is responsible for housing vital transport aircraft, surveillance systems, and refuelling squadrons.Following Indian Air Force precision strikes on Nur Khan Airbase in Pakistan's Rawalpindi on May 10, Pakistan is now considering relocating its Army General Headquarters (GHQ) from Chaklala, Rawalpindi, to Islamabad. Army Chief residence also to be moved accordingly, tweeted OSINT updates.Satellite visuals from MIZAZVISION, a Chinese firm, and India's Kawa Space, showed serious damage to the base. Images captured broken fuel trucks, a collapsed warehouse roof, and debris strewn near the main runway.Sources told News18, 'The deep penetration of Indian drones in Rawalpindi came a major shock. To avoid concentrating leadership and assets in one vulnerable location, the army is thinking of shifting Chinese-supplied HQ-9 and LY-80 systems."Air Marshal A.K. Bharti also presented "before and after" imagery during a press briefing, clearly depicting the impact at Nur Khan airfield. The base had been neutralised in a way that, as sources describe, "severed critical links between the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) leadership and its operational units."Following the strikes, reports confirmed that Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir was moved to a fortified bunker within GHQ in the early hours of Saturday. This movement came amidst concerns about further Indian strikes. Sources say the potential new location for GHQ could be in Balochistan or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, areas offering natural defences like mountainous terrain.The GHQ's current location in Rawalpindi is highly populated and lacks such geographical protection. "The Pakistan army thinks the Indian side has signalled by sending drones near the stadium. This raised alarms about gaps in radar coverage and electronic warfare capabilities. MIZAZVISION and Kawa Space confirmed damage to the infrastructure, including fuel depots and drone hangars," sources added.The Nur Khan base has long been a critical asset for Pakistan. It includes Saab Erieye surveillance planes, IL-78 refuelling aircraft, and C-130 transporters. It also houses PAF College Chaklala and supports drone warfare operations.Its close proximity to Pakistan's Strategic Plans Division—the body responsible for securing an estimated 170 or more nuclear warheads—adds to the strategic sensitivity. Indian missiles, including BrahMos, HAMMER, and SCALP, struck 11 Pakistani bases in what was reported to be a larger operation than the earlier Operation Sindoor.Sources told News18 that the attack on Nur Khan marked a decisive point in the ongoing confrontation between the two countries.Officials within the Indian government see the possible relocation of Pakistan's military headquarters as a sign of pressure. "Relocating GHQ's command-and-control systems would take years and billions of dollars and is going to be a challenge for a debt-ridden economy," they said.They added, "Drone attacks revealed weaknesses in overlapping radar coverage, especially near the capital. The inability to protect GHQ and Nur Khan undermines Pakistan's narrative of military parity with India."As the conflict evolves, Pakistan's military establishment is now confronting hard questions about its vulnerability and readiness. The GHQ, once seen as a symbol of secure command, now appears exposed.For now, no final decision has been announced, but the growing calls to move headquarters underline a fundamental shift in Pakistan's defensive calculations. The government remains tight-lipped, even as sources confirm that senior leadership is weighing options with urgency.
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