New Delhi: Pakistan was compelled to seek a ceasefire after its air bases were struck by India during Operation Sindoor, the country’s deputy prime minister Ishaq Dar has admitted.
Speaking on a television news show, Dar said that the Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi and Shorkot air base – also known as Pakistan Air Force Base Rafiqui – in the Punjab province were struck by India. It was at this juncture that Pakistan reached out to the US for its intervention and also sought Saudi Arabia’s assistance.
“…unfortunately, India once again launched missile strikes at 2.30am. They attacked the Nur Khan air base and Shorkot air base… Within 45 minutes, Saudi Prince Faisal called me. He said he had then just learnt about my conversation with Marco Rubio (US Secretary of State). He asked if he was authorised to talk to S Jaishankar and convey that we are ready if India stops. I said yes, Brother, you can. He then called me back, saying he had conveyed the same to Jaishankar,” Dar said.
The Nur Khan air base is one of Pakistan’s most sensitive military compounds, housing both air force assets and VIP transport units.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists from across the country. India carried out precision strikes against nine terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Immediately after this strike, India called Pakistan and urged it to abstain from any retaliatory action as no military or civilian targets had been struck.
Pakistan did retaliate though and launched swarms of missiles and drones against India, most of which were intercepted by India’s robust air defence systems.
Finally, early on May 10, India launched deadly missile strikes on several Pakistani air bases, including Nur Khan and Rafiqui.
It was after this that Major General Kashif Abdullah, Pakistan’s DGMO, placed a direct call to his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai. The timing of the call, 1535 hrs IST, was later confirmed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at a press briefing.
It has been confirmed that the US exerted pressure on Pakistan to make the call and de-escalate the situation. India agreed, not to an official ceasefire but cessation of firing if Pakistan stopped escalating the situation any further.
Satellite images later revealed heavy damage to the air bases, including Nur Khan and Rafiqui. The latter is one of Pakistan’s principal fighter air bases, housing Chinese-made JF-17 fighter jets, French-built Mirage 5s, and Alouette III helicopters.
