Shehbaz Sharif Admits Indian Missile Strikes on Nur Khan Airbase During Operation Sindoor

Islamabad/New Delhi, May 17, 2025 — In a startling and rare admission, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly confirmed that Indian ballistic missiles struck Nur Khan Airbase and several other targets on May 10. The strikes were part of India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, which was attributed to Pakistan-backed terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).

Addressing the public at the Pakistan Monument, PM Sharif stated that he was informed by Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir at 2:30 am via a secure line about the Indian strikes. “General Asim Munir called me and said India’s ballistic missiles have hit Nur Khan Airbase and some other locations,” Sharif said, as reported by Geo News.

Operation Sindoor: India’s Measured Response to Terror

India initiated Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, targeting key terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK). The operation was seen as a strategic and precise military response to the April Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir, which left several civilians and security personnel dead.

According to intelligence sources, Indian forces struck nine high-value terror locations, resulting in the elimination of over 100 militants. These included camps operated by JeM, LeT, and HM, believed to be under the direct support of Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI.

In retaliation, Pakistan launched cross-border shelling and attempted drone incursions across the Line of Control (LoC). However, India’s swift counter-response included secondary airstrikes on Pakistani airfields, with Nur Khan Airbase being the most significant target.

Pakistan’s Acknowledgment Marks a Policy Shift

Historically, Pakistan has denied or downplayed Indian military actions on its soil. However, this time, Shehbaz Sharif broke with precedent by publicly confirming the attacks and crediting the Pakistan Air Force’s defensive response using both locally developed tech and Chinese-made jets.

“Pakistan Air Force deployed indigenous technology along with Chinese aircraft to defend the homeland,” Sharif said. However, he also acknowledged the accuracy and technological sophistication of India’s missile systems, calling them “precise and advanced.”

Political and Diplomatic Ripple Effects

Reacting to Sharif’s statement, BJP leader Amit Malviya tweeted:

“Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif himself admits that General Asim Munir called him at 2:30 am to tell him India had bombed Nur Khan Air Base and some other places… This says volumes about the scale, accuracy, and audacity of #OperationSindoor.”

India’s leadership has remained firm on its stance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post-operation speech, declared:

“If there are talks with Pakistan, they will only be about terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Nothing else is on the table.”

He further warned Islamabad:

“If Pakistan is to survive, it has to dismantle its terror infrastructure. There is no other path to peace.”

Ceasefire and Fragile Calm

After days of escalating military engagement, both nations agreed to a ceasefire on May 10. Yet, tensions remain high, with global powers urging both sides to exercise restraint. The United Nations and several Western nations have taken note of Pakistan’s unprecedented acknowledgment, indicating the seriousness of the current geopolitical climate.

During a visit to Kamra Airbase, PM Sharif signaled willingness for peace:

“Pakistan is ready for dialogue with India, but the Kashmir issue must be part of it.”

However, India remains resolute, refusing to deviate from its terrorism-first dialogue policy.

A New Chapter in Indo-Pak Relations?

Shehbaz Sharif’s public confirmation of the Indian strikes on Nur Khan Airbase marks a potential turning point in the long and tense Indo-Pak narrative. With Operation Sindoor setting a precedent for swift, strategic, and technologically advanced responses to terrorism, both nations now stand at a critical juncture.

Whether this episode leads to sustained peace or further conflict will depend largely on Pakistan’s next steps—particularly in its approach toward terror infrastructure and cross-border hostilities.