In a series of precise retaliatory strikes on Pakistani military bases early Saturday, Indian armed forces deployed advanced missiles, guided munitions, and loitering munitions. The targets included bases in Rafiqui (Shorkot, Jhang), Murid (Chakwal), Nur Khan (Chaklala, Rawalpindi), Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian (Kasur). Significant damage was also inflicted on air bases in Skardu, Bholari, Jacobabad, and Sargodha, with radar installations in Pasrur and Sialkot being targeted using precision munitions.
Reports suggest that air-launched precision weapons such as the HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) and the SCALP cruise missile were likely employed. Notably, the involvement of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, although unconfirmed officially, would mark its first utilization in actual combat scenarios. Both the HAMMER and SCALP can be launched from the Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighter jets.
These selections were strategic, aiming solely at confirmed Pakistani military targets, including technical infrastructure, command and control centers, radar facilities, and weapon storage sites. The Skardu air base is of strategic importance due to its northern location, housing combat squadrons alongside a training facility at Bholari. Each targeted site was positioned deep within Pakistan, with the Murid air base in Punjab’s Chakwal housing unmanned combat aerial vehicles, and Rafiqui bustling with advanced fighter squadrons.
On that Saturday morning, New Delhi described Pakistan’s recent actions as “escalatory” and “provocative.” Pakistan had attempted air intrusions at over 26 locations stretching from Srinagar to Nalia, all of which the Indian armed forces successfully countered. An official statement confirmed the use of air-launched precision weapons to target the Pakistani air bases while noting the observed troop movements by the Pakistani military towards forward positions.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, during a media briefing alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, emphasized that “actions have been effectively countered,” reiterating India’s commitment to avoiding escalation, contingent on reciprocal restraint from the Pakistani military. They condemned Pakistan’s use of drones and long-range weaponry that targeted civilian and military infrastructures along the western border.
Wing Commander Singh provided details on the 26 attempted air intrusions, confirming that the Indian armed forces neutralized these threats efficiently. However, some damage occurred at Indian Air Force stations in Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, and Bhuj, as several high-speed missile attacks were noted after 1:40 AM. Colonel Qureshi further mentioned that Pakistan’s attacks included targeting civilian infrastructure, notably a healthcare center and a school at air bases in Srinagar, Avantipur, and Udhampur.
Both officers dismissed Pakistan’s claims of significant damage to Indian bases as part of a “malicious misinformation campaign,” presenting time-stamped photographs to prove that infrastructures in Sirsa and Suratgarh remained intact.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/brahmos-likely-used-in-precision-attacks-on-dozen-pakistan-air-bases-9995462/
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Publish Date: 2025-05-11 03:45:00
