The Impressive TimesNew Delhi : India launched targeted strikes on three Pakistani airbases—Nur Khan in Rawalpindi, Murid in Chakwal, and Rafiqui in Jhang—early Saturday morning, hours after Pakistani drones were reportedly sighted over 26 locations across several Indian states.
The Indian military confirmed the retaliatory action, stating that the drone activity represented a coordinated threat to Indian security and warranted a proportionate response. According to Indian defence sources, the drones were tracked and engaged before the strikes were ordered.
Pakistan initially disclosed the attacks through a statement by military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry during a press briefing held earlier on Saturday. He claimed that Indian missiles had targeted the airbases of Nur Khan, Murid, and Rafiqui, though he did not provide operational details or evidence at that time.
Soon after, visuals from Rawalpindi showed Pakistani police evacuating people and removing vehicles from the main entry point of Nur Khan airbase—lending credibility to reports of the Indian strike. Local media also reported heightened military activity and restricted access near the affected sites.
The strikes come after India detected a surge in drone intrusions late Friday night, with unmanned aerial vehicles reportedly flying across sensitive locations in Punjab, Jammu, and Rajasthan. While no casualties or damage were reported on Indian soil, the pattern and scale of the drone activity prompted a swift review at the highest level of Indian defence leadership.
A senior Indian defence official said: “The incursion of drones across 26 locations was a deliberate provocation. Our response was precise, targeted, and limited to military installations that support such operations.”
The Pakistani government has yet to provide detailed damage assessments or casualties from the strikes. However, the admission of missile strikes and visible security cordons around the airbases suggest a serious impact.
This marks one of the most direct cross-border confrontations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours since the Balakot air strikes of 2019. It remains to be seen whether diplomatic channels will be reactivated to contain further escalation.
Meanwhile, both countries have placed their air defence units on heightened alert, and commercial air traffic has reportedly been rerouted in regions near the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border.
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