(Image source from: Indiatoday.in)
This morning, the Indian Air Force's fighter jets conducted strikes on bases of the Pakistan Air Force located in Rafiqui, Murid, and Chaklala. This action was a response to Pakistan’s erratic drone and missile strikes that targeted civilian regions and military assets in India’s western areas. In a statement to the press, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh emphasized that the operations by India aimed solely at military installations. She stated, "Air-launched precision munitions were deployed against military locations in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian. Precision weapons were also used to target radar installations at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation base. Throughout these operations, India took care to minimize collateral damage." The selection of targets was deliberate, aimed at incapacitating Pakistan's ability to execute air strikes with drones and fighter jets. The strikes on these crucial air force locations likely compromised Pakistan's reconnaissance and long-range strike capabilities.
The Nur Khan airbase, formerly known as PAF base Chaklala, is situated in Rawalpindi and functions as the command center for Pakistan's aerial operations. Indian Air Force officials pointed out that the Nur Khan airbase has been instrumental in orchestrating the cross-border drone and missile assaults from Pakistan over the past three days. This base is equipped with a Saab 2000 airborne early warning and control aircraft, which is thought to have significantly contributed to Pakistan's aerial assaults on Indian territories. The Rafiqui air base, located in Punjab province, hosts advanced fighter squadrons of Mirage and JF-17 aircraft and serves as a training facility for operations in Punjab and Kashmir. Recent days have witnessed a surge of aerial activity from both countries, and Rafiqui is believed to be pivotal in supporting Pakistan’s aerial operations against India. Targeting this airbase was a strategic move to impede Pakistan's striking capabilities, with Rafiqui, along with Murid and Chaklala, facing assaults from air-launched precision munitions.
The Murid airbase in Punjab is the primary center for Pakistan's drone operations, housing indigenous Shahpar-I drones, as well as the Turkish-manufactured Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci models. In the preceding two days, Pakistan has deployed hundreds of drones across the border, many of which were unarmed and appeared to be conducting surveillance to ascertain Indian positions, although some were armed. The Indian air defense system successfully intercepted most of these drones. During the briefing today, Wing Commander Singh assured that the Indian armed forces were well-prepared and had effectively countered all aggressive maneuvers. "The Indian military reiterates its commitment to avoiding escalation, contingent upon Pakistan's military reciprocating this restraint," she stated. Pakistan’s reckless aerial operations followed India’s precise airstrikes targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, initiated as retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attacks that resulted in the loss of 26 innocent lives.
