India's Strikes Hit Nur Khan Airbase Tied To Nuke Sites, Pakistan Insiders Confirm Damage

News18

4 hours ago

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Nur Khan Airbase is widely regarded as a multipurpose backbone of the Pakistan Air Force
Pakistan's Nur Khan Airbase, which is considered a critical node in its military infrastructure, sustained significant damage in India's precision strike during Operation Sindoor, satellite images have confirmed.
Nur Khan Airbase, located just 25 km from Islamabad and adjacent to Pakistan Army Headquarters and its nuclear command facilities, is widely regarded as a multipurpose backbone of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). It houses elite VIP transport fleets, mobile command centres, surveillance aircraft, and Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones. Crucially, the base is suspected to be linked to Pakistan's nuclear oversight and mobility networks.
Intelligence sources confirm that Indian strikes targeted key infrastructure including runways, radar stations, hangars, and underground fortified zones. Satellite imagery revealed the destruction of a 7,000 sq ft operations complex and command vehicles, as well as crater impacts near areas believed to store sensitive or nuclear-linked assets.
Pak Security Analyst's Big Expose
Pakistani security analyst Imtiaz Gul, in a video statement, alleged that the airbase functions effectively as an 'American fortress," off-limits even to Pakistan Army personnel. He cited repeated sightings of US aircraft, undisclosed cargo, and restricted access to Pakistan Army officers. 'There are hidden agreements between the US and Pakistan Army since 2001," Gul alleged, linking the base to Afghan war logistics and past drone operations.
His statement aligns with CNN-News18 's prior report that Pakistan is deliberately avoiding debris clearance at the base, fearing it would confirm the extent of the damage to both India and the global community. Sources say orders were issued to delay cleanup efforts to obscure satellite-based assessments of the strike's impact.
The Pakistan Army has attempted to downplay the damage. But intelligence agencies, backed by high-resolution satellite imagery, confirm that around 20% of Pakistan's air force operational infrastructure may have been degraded in the strike. Mobile command centres, surveillance systems like the Saab Erieye AWACS, and other critical assets were severely compromised.
Further complicating the situation is the base's proximity to Pakistan's nuclear assets. Sources suggest that debris near these sensitive areas has not been cleared out of both logistical constraints and deep strategic insecurity—any exposure could inadvertently validate long-held suspicions about US and Pakistani collaboration on covert nuclear logistics.
India's ability to strike such a fortified and symbolically significant site sends a strong message, not just about its long-range strike capabilities but also about the gaps in Pakistan's air defence system. Top officials note that the attack bypassed ballistic missile interception systems and directly targeted high-value strategic infrastructure.
Pakistan's continued silence and reluctance to share ground-level visuals from Nur Khan only adds to the perception of a major military and political embarrassment. 'This is not just material damage, it is a psychological blow to the core of Pakistan's defence establishment," a senior intelligence officer told CNN-News18.
First Published:
June 09, 2025, 18:59 IST