After nearly eight months of denial, Pakistan has officially acknowledged that India struck the strategically vital Nur Khan Airbase during Operation Sindoor in May this year, lending credibility to New Delhi’s claims of targeting key Pakistani military infrastructure during the brief but intense four-day India–Pakistan conflict.
Admission by Pakistan’s foreign minister
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, while outlining Islamabad’s diplomatic engagements in 2025, confirmed that the Indian strike took place in the early hours of May 10.
Dar stated that India deployed a large number of drones during the operation, claiming that Pakistan intercepted 79 out of 80 drones within a 36-hour window. He further acknowledged that India targeted the Nur Khan Airbase, a facility of high strategic importance located near Rawalpindi.
According to Dar, the strike on the airbase prompted Pakistan to launch what he described as a retaliatory military operation, marking a significant escalation during the conflict.
Significance of the Nur Khan Airbase
The Nur Khan Airbase is a critical asset for the Pakistan Air Force and has long been considered a sensitive military installation due to its proximity to key command centres. India had earlier maintained that Operation Sindoor involved precision strikes on select military targets, countering Pakistan’s initial claims that Indian actions were ineffective.
The latest admission represents the first official confirmation from Islamabad that the airbase was indeed hit, shifting the narrative around the outcome of the operation.
Pakistan denies seeking mediation
Dar also rejected claims that Pakistan sought international mediation to end the conflict. He asserted that Islamabad did not request outside intervention, but said that the United States Department of State and Saudi Arabia had independently reached out.
According to him, Marco Rubio and Prince Faisal bin Farhan expressed interest in speaking with New Delhi amid rising tensions.
Impact on regional narrative
Strategic analysts say the delayed acknowledgment underscores the information warfare that often accompanies military confrontations between nuclear-armed neighbours. India has consistently maintained that its actions during Operation Sindoor were targeted, proportionate and aimed at safeguarding national security.
The admission is likely to reinforce India’s position internationally, while also reopening debate on transparency, escalation control and crisis communication in South Asia.