Pakistan has accused India of launching ballistic missile strikes on three of its military air bases early Saturday morning, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The targeted bases include Nur Khan Air Base near Rawalpindi, Murid Air Base in Chakwal, and Rafiqui Air Base in Jhang district, all located in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
According to Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, most of the incoming missiles were intercepted by air defenses, and preliminary assessments indicate no significant damage to air assets or casualties. The Pakistani military described the missile strikes as a “provocation of the highest order” and announced a retaliatory operation named “Operation Bunyan Marsoos” (Iron Wall), targeting multiple Indian military installations in response.
The attacks come amid the worst fighting between India and Pakistan in nearly three decades, following a deadly Islamist militant attack on April 22 in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. India launched a series of strikes on militant positions in Pakistan earlier this week, which Islamabad condemned as unprovoked aggression.
Pakistan’s military claimed that India fired six ballistic missiles from Adampur in Indian Punjab, with some projectiles reportedly overshooting into neighboring Afghanistan. The Pakistani air force responded with missile strikes and aerial operations against Indian bases, including those in Punjab and Jammu regions. Both countries have also engaged in drone and artillery exchanges along the Line of Control in Kashmir.
India’s defense and foreign ministries have yet to officially respond to Pakistan’s latest allegations, though Indian military officials have stated that their recent strikes were defensive measures against Pakistani drone attacks and militant threats. India reported limited damage to air force stations at Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, and Bhuj, and claimed to have shot down several Pakistani drones.
The escalating exchanges have raised fears of a broader conflict, with explosions and sirens reported in multiple cities on both sides of the border. Analysts warn that the ongoing tit-for-tat missile and drone strikes risk spiraling into a full-scale war, underscoring the urgent need for de-escalation between the two nuclear powers.
As of May 10, both India and Pakistan remain on high alert, with diplomatic efforts underway to prevent further escalation. The international community continues to call for restraint and dialogue to avoid a catastrophic conflict in the volatile South Asian region.