Sharif admits Nur Khan base was struck: 'Munir rang me up at 2.30am'

NEW DELHI: In a first formal acknowledgment, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has confirmed that the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi was struck during the night of May 9–10, when India carried out missile strikes on multiple Pakistani airbases. This admission is significant as it corrects the narrative surrounding the cross-border hostilities, as previous Pakistani statements had either downplayed or denied the extent of the damage inflicted during the Indian operation.

“On the night of May 9 and May 10, at around 2.30 am the Army chief called me from a secure line call that India, through its ballistic missiles had attacked us. One missile hit the Nur Khan airbase and some others have hit other areas,” Sharif said.


BJP: Sharif words prove Op Sindoor’s boldness

The Pakistan PM made this statement during his speech at a ceremony titled ‘Youm-e-Tashakur’ (Thanksgiving) on what Islamabad claims is a “sham celebration” on the success of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and Marka-e-Haq against India. During the ceremony in Islamabad, he detailed the chain of events that triggered Islamabad’s response to India. And while he summarised the events, he conceded and established the Indian claim that Nur Khan airbase was hit with Indian missile strikes .

Reacting to Sharif’s admission, BJP on Saturday reasserted that it was a confirmation about scale, precision and boldness of Operation Sindoor . “Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif himself admits that General Asim Munir called him at 2.30am to inform him that India had bombed Nur Khan Air Base and several other locations. Let that sink in — the Prime Minister was woken up in the middle of the night with news of strikes deep inside Pakistan. This speaks volumes about the scale, precision, and boldness of Operation Sindoor,” BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said in a post on X.

Sharif also added that Army Chief General Asim Munir asked for permission to respond to India will full force, which later translated into an attack by Pakistan through drones, airstrikes and missile strikes, which were successfully thwarted by Indian armed forces .