New Delhi: Explosions were reported in the early hours of Saturday from three Pakistan air bases including the military’s primary logistics hub the Nur Khan base in Rawalpindi, hours after Pakistan launched a fresh wave of drones and loitering munitions targeting several Indian cities, and particularly the Sirsa air base of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Pakistan military’s information wing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the explosions, blaming them on an Indian missile attack. ISPR DG in a late night statement said India has targeted the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) Nur Khan (Chaklala, Rawalpindi district), Murid (Chakwal) and Rafiqui (Shorkot, Jhang district) air bases.
General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the ISPR DG, claimed as per information coming in all Pakistan Air Force assets remain safe. “Continuing its naked aggression, India some time back has fired air-to-surface missiles with its jets.
PAF Nur Khan base, PAF Murid base and Shorkot base were targeted.
According to information till now, all PAF assets are safe,” Pakistani daily Dawn quoted him as saying. Incidentally, several purported videos posted by Pakistani citizens on various social media platforms showed what appeared to be a ball of fire at at least two bases including Nur Khan.
Indian officials remain mum on the ISPR’s claims, but maintain that there will be a briefing later in the day to apprise the country on the developments.
Pakistan Air Force Squadrons stationed at the Nur Khan base are No. 6, 10, 12, and 41. The aircraft which are based there include C-130s and IL-78, besides the Saab Erieye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) fleet.
Incidentally, hours before these blasts, Pakistan launched a fresh wave of drones and loitering munitions targeting at least 26 locations along the northern and western sectors, ranging from Baramulla in J&K to Bhuj in Gujarat—states along the International Border and Line of Control. These included suspected armed drones posing potential threats to civilian and military targets, said the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Among cities targeted were Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet and Lakhi Nala. The Indian Army added that “an armed drone targeted a civilian area in Ferozepur, resulting in severe injuries to members of a local family”.
This is a developing story
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
Also Read: Orders for Pahalgam satellite images from US firm peaked two months before attack