Rafiqui, Murid, Rawalpindi- In a decisive military response to a series of provocative drone and missile attacks from Pakistan, the Indian Air Force (IAF) launched precision airstrikes early this morning on several strategic Pakistani airbases, including Rafiqui, Murid, and Chaklala (Nur Khan Airbase). The strikes were part of an escalated phase of Operation Sindoor, a counter-terror operation launched after the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 Indian civilians.
The Indian government stated that the military action was both calibrated and targeted, designed to degrade Pakistan’s capability to carry out aerial attacks, particularly through drone swarms and long-range reconnaissance missions. All strikes were directed strictly at military targets, with minimal collateral damage, according to Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
India’s Tactical Objective: Cripple Pakistan’s Aerial Attack Infrastructure
Speaking at an official briefing, Wing Commander Singh outlined the broader goal of India’s air operations. “Pakistan military targets at Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian were engaged using air-launched precision weapons from our fighter aircraft. Radar installations at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation base were also destroyed,” she said.
India’s selection of targets was deliberate. The Indian Air Force aimed to neutralize Pakistan’s aerial reconnaissance, fighter jet deployment capabilities, and especially its growing drone warfare infrastructure — a new domain where Pakistan had escalated provocations over the past 72 hours.
Strategic Importance of the Targets Hit
Nur Khan Airbase (Chaklala), Rawalpindi– Formerly known as the Chaklala Airbase, Nur Khan Airbase is situated adjacent to Pakistan’s military headquarters in Rawalpindi, less than 10 km from Islamabad. It serves as the nerve centre for Pakistan’s Air Mobility Command. According to Indian defence sources, the base played a key role in coordinating recent cross-border drone attacks, which targeted both military and civilian locations across Indian states including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan.
This facility is also home to Pakistan’s Saab 2000 airborne early warning and control systems (AEW&C), which were believed to be instrumental in orchestrating aerial targeting and intelligence. Disabling Chaklala was thus critical to disrupting further coordinated attacks.
Rafiqui Airbase, Punjab Province– Located in Pakistan’s Punjab province, PAF Base Rafiqui houses some of Pakistan’s most advanced air assets, including JF-17 Thunder and Mirage fighter squadrons. It also serves as a training centre for operations in Punjab and Kashmir, areas central to any air-based engagement with India. Indian intelligence suggests that air activity from Rafiqui surged in recent days, making it a focal point for retaliatory strikes. By targeting Rafiqui, India likely disrupted a key node in Pakistan’s offensive aerial network.
Murid Airbase: Drone Warfare Headquarters– Perhaps the most significant among the targets was the PAF Base Murid, often referred to as the headquarters of Pakistan’s drone warfare program. Murid houses both indigenous drones like Shahpar-I and imported systems including the Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci from Turkey. Over the last 48 hours, hundreds of drones — both armed and unarmed — had been launched from Murid, many of which were intercepted by India’s air defence units.
These drones were deployed not just for reconnaissance, but also for psychological warfare and soft-target disruption, as evident in strikes on civilian homes in Rajouri and Ferozepur. Taking Murid offline is expected to dramatically reduce Pakistan’s unmanned aerial strike capabilities.
A Measured Response Amid Rising Tensions
Despite the comprehensive nature of the airstrikes, Wing Commander Singh emphasized that India’s response was measured and aimed at de-escalation. “The Indian armed forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is reciprocated by the Pakistan military,” she said.
Indian authorities reiterated that no civilian or non-military infrastructure was targeted during the strikes, contrasting sharply with Pakistan’s indiscriminate shelling of residential areas in Jammu and Kashmir earlier this week, which resulted in multiple civilian casualties — including the tragic death of Rajouri’s Additional District Development Commissioner Raj Kumar Thappa.
Operation Sindoor: The Strategic Context
The current escalation traces back to Operation Sindoor, India’s surgical counteroffensive launched in response to the Pahalgam attack. Under the operation, India has already struck multiple terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), most of which were linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
These terror outfits, long sponsored by Pakistani intelligence, have carried out decades of violence in India. The latest Indian air operations now seek to cut off both the head and the limbs of the operational machinery — not just the terror camps, but also their aerial logistical backbone.
With both nations at a crucial juncture, diplomatic channels are reportedly still open, though India remains militarily prepared for any further provocations.
