SOURCE: AFI


In a recent podcast with Dunya News, prominent Pakistani journalist, news anchor, and author Hamid Mir made a startling claim that has raised eyebrows across geopolitical and media circles. Mir alleged that during Pakistani Air Force (PAF) strikes on the Indian Air Force (IAF) Adampur airbase in Punjab, several Israeli defense experts were injured.
This assertion, presented without verifiable evidence, has been met with skepticism, especially given the lack of damage to the airbase as confirmed by satellite imagery and official Indian statements. Furthermore, Mir’s claim comes in the context of Pakistan’s broader narrative during the recent India-Pakistan tensions, where the PAF falsely claimed to have destroyed an S-400 air defense system at Adampur—a claim debunked within 24 hours of a ceasefire brokered at Pakistan’s request.
The backdrop to Mir’s claim is the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan following India’s Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. India conducted precision airstrikes targeting terror camps and military infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), hitting 11 airbases, including Nur Khan, Sargodha, and Bholari. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies and analysis by independent experts, such as Damien Symon, confirmed significant damage to Pakistani military facilities, including runways and command centers.
In retaliation, Pakistan launched “Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos,” targeting Indian airbases, including Adampur, Udhampur, Pathankot, and Bhuj, with drones and missiles. The PAF claimed to have destroyed India’s advanced S-400 air defense system at Adampur using hypersonic missiles launched from JF-17 Thunder jets. Additionally, Pakistan alleged strikes on BrahMos missile storage, fighter jets, and radar systems, claiming significant casualties, including 60 Indian soldiers. These claims, however, were swiftly debunked by Indian authorities, satellite imagery, and independent analysts.
During the Dunya News podcast, Hamid Mir took Pakistan’s narrative a step further, asserting that “several Israeli defense experts” were present at six IAF bases, including Adampur, during Operation Sindoor, and some were injured in Pakistani strikes on the Adampur airbase. This claim, which Mir attributed to unnamed sources, has been widely ridiculed on social media platforms like X, where users labeled it “comedy gold” and questioned its credibility, citing the “Trust Me, Bro Institute of Strategic Delusions” as its source.
Mir’s assertion is particularly striking given the absence of any evidence supporting the presence of Israeli personnel at Indian airbases, let alone injuries sustained during the conflict. Israel’s defense forces (IDF) have not commented on these claims, and no international media or credible open-source intelligence (OSINT) reports have corroborated Mir’s allegations. The claim appears to be an attempt to inflate Pakistan’s perceived success against India while dragging Israel into the narrative, possibly to appeal to domestic or regional audiences critical of Israeli defense collaborations.
Contrary to Pakistan’s assertions, satellite imagery and Indian official statements paint a starkly different picture. High-resolution satellite photos analyzed by experts, including Damien Symon, showed no visible damage to Adampur airbase’s runways, hangars, or critical infrastructure. The PAF’s claim of destroying an S-400 system was specifically refuted by imagery showing no craters, debris, or structural damage in the area Pakistan highlighted as the “damaged” site—a patch of barren land.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Adampur on May 13, 2025, just days after the ceasefire, further dismantled Pakistan’s narrative. Accompanied by Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Modi was photographed with IAF personnel, a MiG-29 jet, and an intact S-400 system in the background. Modi’s presence at the fully operational airbase, where he landed on an undamaged runway, was described as a “masterclass in fact-checking” by Indian media and officials. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted a video of the visit, calling it a direct rebuttal to Pakistan’s “false narrative.”
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Defence (MoD) also dismissed Pakistan’s claims as part of a broader disinformation campaign. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh confirmed that Indian air defenses, including the S-400, intercepted most Pakistani drones and missiles, resulting in minimal damage to IAF bases. The Indian Air Force’s Director General of Air Operations, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, emphasized that all IAF bases remained fully operational, with no significant damage to runways or systems.
Pakistan’s claim of destroying the S-400, a $1.5 billion Russian-made air defense system, was a centerpiece of its propaganda. The S-400, known as “Sudarshan Chakra” in India, is a long-range surface-to-air missile system capable of engaging targets up to 400 km away. Deployed in Punjab since 2021, it bolsters India’s defenses against aerial threats from Pakistan and China. During Operation Sindoor, the S-400 successfully intercepted Pakistani drones and missiles, including speculated targets like the SAAB Erieye AWACS and Chinese-origin PL-15E missiles.
Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released a satellite image labeled “PAF Response (Targeting S-400 at Adampur),” claiming it showed a destroyed S-400 radar. However, Indian and international analysts, including ISRO officials, confirmed the image depicted an empty field with no signs of an explosion or military damage. Claims of a damaged Sukhoi-30MKI at Adampur were similarly debunked, with Symon revealing the image showed a MiG-29 under routine maintenance, with soot marks mistaken for battle damage.
Hamid Mir’s claim that Pakistani strikes on the IAF’s Adampur airbase injured Israeli defense experts is a striking example of unverified sensationalism. Backed by no credible evidence and contradicted by satellite imagery, Indian official statements, and the operational status of Adampur, the claim appears to be part of Pakistan’s broader disinformation campaign following Operation Sindoor. The PAF’s earlier assertion of destroying the S-400 system was similarly debunked, with PM Modi’s visit and independent analyses exposing the falsehoods.
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