Pakistan has broken its silence, admitting for the first time that its Nur Khan Air Base was hit and damaged by Indian missiles. This rare acknowledgment of damage from an Indian military operation is a significant development and a potential embarrassment for the Pakistani government. The strike, part of Operation Sindoor, was a response to the April 22 terror attack. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that India launched drones, and while claiming most were intercepted, one managed to strike the Nur Khan Air Base, causing damage and injuring personnel. Dar publicly stated that India had ‘made the mistake’ with this early-morning raid on May 10. However, this account has been strongly refuted by former Indian military officials. Lt Gen (Retd) KJS Dhillon called the Pakistani minister a ‘compulsive liar,’ stating that the Nur Khan base was severely damaged and footage from Pakistani citizens showed the extent of the fire. He also pointed to the large number of posthumous gallantry awards given to Pakistani soldiers, indicating a much higher impact and casualty rate than Pakistan is admitting.
