News Desk : In a rare public acknowledgment, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has admitted that the Pakistani military was caught off-guard by a series of precise Indian airstrikes on May 9–10, which targeted multiple Pakistani military airbases, including the strategically critical Nur Khan Air Base near Rawalpindi.
Speaking at a diplomatic event in Azerbaijan, Sharif revealed that the Indian Air Force used BrahMos cruise missiles to carry out the surprise attack before dawn on May 10, thwarting Pakistan’s planned military response. “Our forces were prepared to strike back at 4:30 am after Fajr prayers, but before that could happen, India launched another wave of missile attacks targeting several provinces, including Rawalpindi,” said Sharif.
On May 10th, Pakistan had planned an attack on India at 4:30AM to “teach the enemy a lesson” but before that could happen, India launched BrahMos strikes across Pak’s provinces including the Rawalpindi airbase — Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif. This is Bunyan for you. Munir promoted… pic.twitter.com/kbrcLvFYVn
— Shubhangi Sharma (@ItsShubhangi) May 29, 2025
The Pakistani Prime Minister also disclosed that Army Chief Asim Munir, now promoted to Field Marshal, had briefed him about the attack, noting damage to multiple high-value targets.
This is Sharif’s second public statement in recent weeks acknowledging the scale and impact of India’s retaliatory strikes, carried out in response to Pakistani drone and missile attacks on Indian civilian areas along the western border.
According to defense sources, India targeted 11 Pakistani military installations, including Nur Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Skardu, Bholari, Jacobabad, and Sargodha. Satellite imagery has confirmed damage to infrastructure and aircraft at several of these sites.
The strikes reportedly involved the deployment of around 15 BrahMos missiles, launched from Su-30MKI fighter jets, known for their speed, precision, and ability to evade radar detection. Despite Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied air defense systems, the missiles struck with surgical accuracy.
Notably, the Nur Khan Air Base, located near Pakistan Army HQ and home to C-130 Hercules and Il-78 refueller aircraft, sustained visible damage, with satellite images confirming hits on at least two military transport assets.
Sharif’s admission has not only drawn international attention but also sparked renewed questions about the effectiveness of Pakistan’s air defense readiness and the escalating nature of cross-border hostilities in the region.
