India’s precision strikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’ have left several Pakistani airbases severely damaged and forced Islamabad to request a ceasefire after three days of military escalation. The operation, launched in retaliation for the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians, saw Indian fighter aircraft target nine terror sites deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) on 7 May.
Well-known OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) expert Damien Symon revealed satellite evidence of the damage caused by Indian strikes on strategic Pakistani military installations. Satellite imagery captured by LANDSAT over Sargodha Airbase on 10 May suggests runway 14/32 was struck at two points, one near its intersection with runway 06/24. At Rahim Yar Khan Airbase, Pakistan has declared its only runway non-operational and issued a NOTAM in effect until 17 May. These successful strikes, particularly on Rahim Yar Khan and Sargodha, appear to have been the final nail in the coffin, forcing Pakistan to halt its dangerous and escalatory posture.
Further imagery from Indian firm KAWASPACE and Chinese satellite providers confirmed significant structural damage at Nur Khan, Bholari, and Jacobabad Airbases. Precision targeting avoided aircraft but focused on ground support infrastructure, hangars, and operational zones. At Bholari, debris and structural damage near the runway were evident, suggesting possible degradation of quick reaction capabilities.
On 10 May, following intense cross-border hostilities and Pakistani retaliation with drone strikes, artillery, and missiles, Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) made an urgent call to his Indian counterpart at 3:30 pm, specifically requesting a ceasefire. India agreed, but not before delivering a calibrated and focused military response.
“In a swift and calibrated response, Indian armed forces carried out precision strikes only at identified military targets. These included technical infrastructure, command and control centres, radar sites, and weapon storage areas,” said Wing Commander Vyomika Singh at a joint press briefing alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Colonel Sofia Qureshi. Key Pakistani military targets at Murid, Chaklala (Rawalpindi), Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Sunia were engaged using air-launched precision munitions. Radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot were also neutralised.
Symon also debunked Pakistan’s misinformation campaign, highlighting doctored images falsely claiming damage to Indian military sites. He pointed out that a manipulated photo of Jammu Airport, which predates 9–10 May 2025, was being circulated to imply destruction that never occurred.
Additionally, he confirmed that recent imagery shows no visible damage at Udhampur Airport, clarifying that routine runway maintenance initiated in April was likely misrepresented as airstrike damage. Even Pakistan Air Force–released visuals showed any possible damage was located away from the runway.
India reiterated that Operation Sindoor was measured, non-escalatory, and aimed exclusively at dismantling the terrorist infrastructure of UN-designated groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), avoiding civilian areas and Pakistani military assets unless used for terrorist operations.
Even The New York Times, often critical of India’s Modi government, reported that the strike on Nur Khan Airbase triggered panic in Islamabad over fears that India might target Pakistan’s nuclear facilities, prompting the hurried call for a ceasefire.
India has now made its position clear: any act of terrorism will be viewed as an act of war. The subcontinent remains tense, but for now, the guns are silent.
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