The recent Indian Air Force (IAF) strikes on Pakistan's Bholari airbase and other military installations mark a significant escalation in regional tensions and demonstrate a calibrated, high-tech military response under Operation Sindoor.
What Happened:
-
On May 10, the IAF carried out coordinated precision airstrikes on at least eight Pakistani airbases, including Bholari, Nur Khan, Sargodha, Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, and Chunian.
-
The strikes were a retaliation for Pakistan’s May 8 attempt to hit Indian military targets, which itself was in response to India's earlier May 6 airstrikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 civilians were killed.
Bholari Airbase Hit:
-
Bholari, one of Pakistan's most advanced operational airbases, is located near Karachi and hosts the 19 Squadron and OCU with F-16A/B Block 15 ADF aircraft.
-
The IAF struck a key hangar at the base with a long-range BrahMos missile, damaging the roof and inflicting substantial destruction inside, as revealed by satellite imagery from May 11.
-
A Saab 200 AEW&C aircraft and four western fighter jets were stationed at the time.
-
The strike reportedly led to the death of six Pakistani air force personnel, a fact acknowledged by the Sindh Chief Minister.
Broader Impact:
-
Air-defence systems neutralized: IAF destroyed four to five major air defence missile launchers, including American and Chinese radar systems in Punjab province.
-
Command & Control disrupted: The operation disabled critical command and control infrastructure of the Pakistan Air Force.
-
Tactics: The IAF employed air-launched weapons only (no surface-to-surface missiles), using traps and decoys to deceive radar systems and minimize risk to Indian aircraft.
-
Weapons included:
-
BrahMos missiles
-
S-400 air defence systems, used effectively against fast-moving PAF targets
-
Strategic Context:
-
Operation Sindoor shows India’s increasing reliance on stand-off precision weapons, integrated air-space dominance tactics, and the ability to carry out deep strikes while maintaining escalation control.
-
The conflict reflects a significant shift in India’s counter-terror doctrine, extending the punitive response directly to military infrastructure, not just terror camps.
-
India reportedly holds technical and video evidence of the strikes on both terrorist camps and military assets.
What’s Next:
-
Damage assessment on Pakistan’s side is ongoing, but the strikes are believed to have crippled parts of its air operations temporarily.
-
The conflict has not spilled over into a full-blown war, but tensions remain extremely high.
-
The international community is watching closely, especially given the use of advanced weapons systems like the S-400 and BrahMos, and the proximity of these strikes to civilian zones.
Conclusion:
This operation signals a new paradigm in India-Pakistan military engagement. The use of precision strikes on airbases, the strategic targeting of command systems, and the public release of satellite-based evidence point to a more assertive Indian posture and a calculated effort to deter further cross-border attacks. The developments mark one of the most serious escalations since the Balakot strikes of 2019.
