India hits back hard: Strikes Pakistan air bases at Rafiq, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan

(L-R) Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi during a special press briefing on Operation Sindoor, at Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
ANI Photo/Shrikant Singh

In a swift and calibrated response, Indian armed forces on Saturday carried out precision strikes on Pakistan Air Force bases, including at Rafiq, Murid, Chaklala and Rahim Yar Khan, to neutralise across the border firepower which it used over the last twenty-four hours to launch offensive at military installations here.

Pakistan’s military installations at Sukkur, Chunian, a radar site at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation base were also targeted.

Indian Army Colonel Sophiya Qureshi and Indian Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh disclosed in a press briefing held here on Saturday morning that the armed forces carried out precision attacks only on identified military targets, which included technical infrastructure, command and control centres, radar sites and weapon storage areas.

While carrying out these responses, India ensured minimum collateral damage, they said

According to Wg Cdr Singh, Pakistani military targets at Rafiq, Murid, chaklala, Rahim Yar khan, Sukoor and Chunia were engaged in using air launch precision weapons from fighter aircraft.

Radar sight at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation bases were also targeted using precision ammunition, she said.

Pakistan Air Force Base Rafique at Shorkot in the Jhang district is one of the most important air bases in Pakistan. It hosts numerous squadrons, including front-line fighter units.

While Murid Airforce Station at Chakwal is a strategic forward base with air defence and radar assets, Chaklala, known as Airbase Nur Khan in Rawalpindi, is critical in handling VIP transport and strategic operations. 

It’s the headquarters of Air Mobility Command and hosts aircraft. Rahim Yar Khan has a strategically significant location.

Wg Cdr Singh cautioned that the Pakistani military has been observed moving its troops into forward areas, indicating an offensive intent to further escalate the situation.

Indian Armed Forces remain in high operational readiness to repulse any advances.

The two women officers, who have been doubling as defence spokespersons in briefings hosted by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri since the launch of Operation Sindoor, further revealed that the Pakistani military continued with its provocation, carrying out aggressive actions employing multiple threat factors all along the western border.

It employed U cap drones, long-range weapons, loitering munitions and fighter aircraft to target civilian areas and military infrastructure, they said.

Singh said the Pakistan military also resorted to air intrusion using drones and the firing of heavy calibre weapons along the line of control. Along the International border and the Line of Control, air intrusions and several harassment attacks were also attempted from Srinagar to Nalia at more than 26 locations.

Air Force stations sustained limited damage

Indian armed forces successfully neutralised these threats and most of the vectors. However, limited damage was sustained to equipment and personnel at Air Force stations at Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, and Bhuj, she stated.

The IAF officer also revealed that there were also several “high speed missile” attacks noticed subsequently after 0140 hrs in the night at several air bases in Punjab.

And, Pakistan attacked the medicare centre and school premises at the airbases of Srinagar, Awantipur and Udhampur, yet again displaying irresponsible targeting of our civilian infrastructure, according to Wg Cdr Singh. After the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, taking lives of 26 tourists, including one from Nepal, Pakistan has been targeting civilian areas in its shelling at the border areas.

According to reports, the hostilities between India and Pakistan saw a new violent escalation as the exchange of offensive for the first time continued from the previous night into Saturday.

Multiple air intrusions

Along the Line of Control also, Pakistan has attempted multiple air intrusions using drones and conducted shelling using heavy calibre artillery guns targeting civilian infrastructure and killing some civilians. Heavy exchange of artillery mortars and small arms fire in the Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri and Akhnoor sectors continued.

Indian Army has responded effectively and proportionately, causing extensive damage to the Pakistan Army, according to the official spokespersons.

An Assistant District Development Commissioner, Raj Kumar Thapa, was among five killed in heavy shelling in Rajouri, in which his house was also damaged.

All hostile actions have been effectively countered and responded appropriately, she stated.

Misinformation campaigns

Meanwhile, at the press briefing, the two defence officers lambasted Pakistan for indulging in a malicious misinformation campaign.

Pakistan has also attempted to execute a continued malicious misinformation campaign with claims of destruction of Indian S 400 systems at Adampur,, destruction of airfields at Suratgarh and Sirsa and Brahmos base at Nagrota Artillery gun positions at Deranyari and Chandigarh forward ammunition depot with heavy damages to other military stations being propagated on social media.

India unequivocally rejected these false narratives being spread by Pakistan, they clarified.

At the briefing, a few images of air force bases in the Punjab and Rajasthan sector were shown to debunk Pakistani claims of causing destruction at these installations.

“You can yourself see the normalcy at air force stations. This is Sirsa, Suratgarh, the runways are intact, there are also time stamps, this is today,” the IAF officer observed.

Wing Commander Singh, in her press briefing, reiterated India’s commitment to non-escalation but stressed that Pakistan, too, has to fall in line for any attempt to silence guns at borders between the two nations.

Meanwhile, Group of Seven ( G7) Countries urged India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint and called for immediate de-escalation of their military conflict through dialogue.

More Like This

Published on May 10, 2025