Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 4: In a stunning revelation that underscores Pakistan’s moment of military vulnerability, Rana Sanaullah, senior adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, admitted that the country’s armed forces had less than a minute to react when India launched a BrahMos missile targeting the Nur Khan airbase during the much-debated 'Operation Sindoor'.
Speaking to a Pakistani news outlet, Sanaullah disclosed, “When India fired the BrahMos missile at Nur Khan airbase, our military only had 30 to 45 seconds to assess whether it carried a nuclear warhead. Making a decision in such a short time was extremely dangerous.”
Located in Chaklala near Rawalpindi, Nur Khan Airbase is one of the primary strategic assets of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The missile strike came amidst heightened tensions following the killing of 26 tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, an incident that India attributed to Pakistan-backed terrorists.
Sanaullah also hinted at the catastrophic consequences that could have unfolded had the missile been misjudged. “I’m not saying they were right by not arming it with a nuclear payload, but the fear of misinterpretation was high. A hasty decision could have led to a nuclear retaliation, risking a global war,” he added.
Reliable sources revealed that following India’s precise missile strikes, including the one on Nur Khan, Pakistan reportedly reached out to then-US President Donald Trump for an urgent ceasefire.
Under 'Operation Sindoor', Indian forces targeted multiple Pakistani military installations, leaving a trail of devastation. Satellite imagery later confirmed heavy damage to airbases in Sargodha, Bholari, Jacobabad, Sukkur, Rahim Yar Khan, and Chaklala (Nur Khan). Runways, hangars, and critical infrastructure were significantly impaired, delivering a major blow to Pakistan’s aerial combat readiness.
Interestingly, this was not the first time the Nur Khan base was in India’s crosshairs. During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, IAF’s 20 Squadron had bombed the same facility using Hawker Hunter aircraft.
Operation Sindoor also saw India decimate camps operated by terror outfits such as Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen. Over 100 militants were neutralised in the overnight offensive, officials said.
Following the Indian strikes, Pakistan retaliated by launching a series of drone and missile attacks targeting western India. However, Indian defence systems successfully intercepted the incoming projectiles. India then followed up with precision strikes on military installations deep inside Pakistani territory.
The high-intensity cross-border exchanges continued for four days, until both nations agreed to a ceasefire, halting all military operations with immediate effect.
The latest admission by a top aide in Islamabad has further validated India’s strategic advantage and swift execution capability, while also exposing the vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s nuclear command preparedness.