Pakistan has acknowledged that Indian drone strikes during Operation Sindoor in May 2025 hit the strategically significant Nur Khan Airbase near Rawalpindi, marking a rare and notable admission by Islamabad about damage to a key military installation. Speaking at a press briefing, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that India launched around 80 drones over a 36-hour period during the operation. According to Dar, Pakistan’s air defence systems intercepted most of the drones, but one drone managed to strike the Nur Khan Airbase, causing damage to infrastructure and injuring personnel stationed at the facility.

Nur Khan Airbase, located close to Pakistan’s capital and military headquarters, is one of the Pakistan Air Force’s most important installations. The confirmation of damage and injuries represents a shift from Pakistan’s earlier stance, which had largely downplayed the impact of Indian strikes during the brief but intense military confrontation.

Dar described the strike as a “mistake” by India but acknowledged the scale and intensity of the drone offensive. Operation Sindoor was launched by India following a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region in April, which New Delhi blamed on militant groups operating from Pakistani territory.

Pakistani officials said the country’s civilian and military leadership held emergency meetings as the situation escalated, assessing the security fallout and coordinating defensive measures. While Islamabad did not disclose the full extent of losses, the admission underscored the seriousness of the confrontation. The acknowledgement has renewed focus on the evolving nature of warfare in South Asia, particularly the increasing use of drones and precision strikes. Analysts say the episode highlights the fragile security environment between India and Pakistan, as well as the risks posed by rapid military escalation between two nuclear-armed neighbours.