In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, powerful explosions were reported early Saturday at multiple Pakistani Air Force (PAF) installations, including a high-security base near Islamabad. The blasts follow a massive but largely unsuccessful Pakistani drone offensive targeting Indian military assets across 26 locations.
According to intelligence sources, the Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi—just kilometres from the Pakistani capital and adjacent to the military headquarters—was among three airbases hit by explosions. The other two installations reportedly affected were PAF Base Rafiqui in Punjab's Shorkot and the Murid Air Base, Pakistan’s main hub for drone operations.
The Indian Armed Forces, in a joint press briefing, confirmed intercepting between 300 and 400 drones launched by Pakistan overnight on May 8–9. Most of the drones, identified as Turkish-manufactured Asisguard Songar models, were neutralized using a multi-layered air defence system involving Barak-8, S-400, Akash surface-to-air missiles, and advanced indigenous anti-drone technologies.
"India successfully thwarted the bulk of these attacks using a combination of kinetic force and electronic countermeasures," said Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army emphasized the threat to civilian aviation: "Pakistan irresponsibly kept its airspace open during the drone and missile operations, effectively using international civil airliners as shields against Indian defensive retaliation." Following India’s strong protest, the Pakistani government on Saturday abruptly closed its entire airspace to civilian and commercial flights. The move, confirmed via a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), comes amid allegations from New Delhi that Islamabad had jeopardized international air traffic safety. Srinagar and other parts of Jammu and Kashmir also reported multiple explosions early this morning, hours after Indian forces repelled the Pakistani drone offensive. The IAF remains on high alert, and security has been tightened across forward airbases and sensitive installations.
India's Ministry of External Affairs condemned the provocation, stating it marked a "reckless and escalatory" attempt by Pakistan to destabilize the region using asymmetric warfare. The coordinated drone assault spanned from Leh in the north to the Sir Creek delta in the south, aiming at both military and civil aviation infrastructure.
Strategic analysts note that the airbases struck within Pakistan include critical facilities: Nur Khan, a key logistical hub; Rafiqui, home to JF-17 and Mirage fighter jets; and Murid, the core site for Pakistan’s UAV operations—including the armed Burraq, surveillance Shahpar I, and the high-endurance Turkish Akinci-L drones.
With both nations possessing nuclear capabilities, the situation remains tense. Indian authorities are closely monitoring developments, and diplomatic channels have been activated to address the ongoing crisis.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)