Following NYT, Washington Post Imagery Analysis Reveals Scale Of Damage From Indian Strikes On Pakistan

India’s recent strikes on Pakistan have inflicted extensive damage on at least six Pakistani airfields, including runways and military structures, according to a detailed analysis by The Washington Post.

Experts described the operation as the most significant air attack on Pakistani military infrastructure in decades of ongoing tensions between the two nations.

The strikes came as part of India’s response to the terrorist attack on 22 April in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region.

In retaliation, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on 7 May, targeting terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

Satellite imagery and video reviews confirmed severe damage to three aircraft hangars, two runways, and multiple mobile buildings used by the Pakistan Air Force.

Notably, some targets were located nearly 100 miles inside Pakistani territory, marking an unprecedented reach.

Walter Ladwig, an international relations expert at King’s College London specialising in South Asian security, told The Washington Post that these strikes represent “the most extensive Indian air attacks on Pakistani military infrastructure since the 1971 war.”

William Goodhind, a geospatial analyst, described the precision strikes as aiming to ‘severely degrade Pakistan’s offensive and defensive air capabilities’.

The Washington Post confirmed that India claimed to have struck 11 bases, calling the actions ‘measured and calibrated’, a claim supported by satellite evidence.

Critical Damage Recorded At Strategic Airbases

Pakistani military officials acknowledged infrastructure damage but did not specify the number of bases hit.

The Pakistan Air Force reported six personnel killed during the attacks.

Among the most heavily damaged sites was Nur Khan air base near Rawalpindi, close to Islamabad.

Satellite images showed two mobile control centres destroyed, with smoke rising from the site.

Nur Khan’s proximity to Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division, which safeguards its nuclear arsenal, underscores the strike’s gravity.

Nearby military headquarters also make the attack highly significant.

Other impacted airbases included Bholari and Shahbaz, where hangars suffered large holes consistent with missile strikes.

The Bholari hangar reportedly housed a Saab 2000 Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, valued in the tens of millions.

Additional damage was reported at Sukkur Airport and Mushaf air base, where craters on runways were visible, though repair efforts had begun by the following day.

Pakistan’s military stated five air force members died at Bholari and one at Mushaf, with Sheikh Zayed Airport’s Royal Lounge suffering heavy damage.

Depth & Damage

Ladwig highlighted that striking multiple military facilities deep inside Pakistan reflects a strategic shift. Previously, India limited strikes to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir or remote areas.

Now, India treats terrorist attacks as justification for conventional military reprisals on mainland Pakistan.

The Pahalgam attack killed 26 people and injured many more.

‘Operation Sindoor’, launched in response, reportedly eliminated over 100 terrorists linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Following the strikes, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling and drone attacks. India responded with coordinated attacks damaging radar sites, communication centres, and airfields.

A ceasefire agreement was reached on 10 May.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared Operation Sindoor a new benchmark in India’s fight against terrorism.

Addressing the nation, he emphasised that India will respond firmly and decisively to any terrorist attacks on its soil, signalling a ‘new normal’ in India’s counterterrorism policy.

This account outlines the significance and scale of India’s recent military actions, indicating a notable shift in the long-standing conflict dynamics between India and Pakistan.

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