SOURCE: AFI
In a significant development that underscores the impact of India’s military operation, Pakistan has reportedly issued tenders to repair multiple airbases damaged during Operation Sindoor, launched by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7, 2025. According to Indian media reports, this move serves as the ultimate proof of the extensive devastation inflicted on Pakistan’s military infrastructure, validating India’s claims of delivering a punishing blow to its neighbor’s air power capabilities.
The tenders, covering critical sites such as Rawalpindi, Kallar Kahar, and Risalpur, highlight the scale of destruction caused by India’s precision strikes and mark a tacit admission by Islamabad of the operation’s success.
Operation Sindoor was initiated in response to a Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 lives, including civilians and tourists. The Indian Armed Forces, comprising the Army, Navy, and Air Force, executed a series of precision strikes targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). These strikes, conducted over 25 minutes in the early hours of May 7, destroyed high-value terror launchpads linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Hizbul Mujahideen, killing over 100 terrorists.
Pakistan’s subsequent retaliation, involving drone and missile attacks on Indian military and civilian targets, prompted India to escalate its response. Between May 8 and 10, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted precision strikes on at least 10 Pakistani airbases, including Nur Khan (Rawalpindi), Mushaf (Sargodha), Bholari, Shahbaz (Jacobabad), Sukkur, Rahim Yar Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sialkot, and Pasrur. These strikes targeted critical infrastructure, such as runways, aircraft hangars, command centers, and air defense systems, severely degrading Pakistan’s military capabilities.
Indian media reports, citing international sources, indicate that Pakistan has now issued tenders to repair its damaged airbases, including key facilities in Rawalpindi, Kallar Kahar, and Risalpur. This development is being hailed as a significant acknowledgment of the destruction caused by India’s strikes. The tenders reportedly cover repairs to runways, aircraft hangars, air traffic control towers, and other critical infrastructure, signaling the extensive nature of the damage.
High-resolution satellite imagery released by Maxar Technologies has provided visual evidence of the devastation. Images show large craters on runways, damaged hangars, and wrecked buildings at bases like Nur Khan, Mushaf, Bholari, and Shahbaz. For instance, at Rahim Yar Khan, a massive crater rendered the runway non-operational, halting flight operations for at least a week. Similarly, Mushaf Airbase in Sargodha, a hub for Pakistan’s advanced fighter jets like the F-16 and JF-17, sustained significant runway damage, with craters measuring up to 15 feet in radius.
The issuance of tenders is seen as a rare public admission by Pakistan, which had initially downplayed the impact of India’s strikes. Pakistani military spokespersons claimed minimal damage and even propagated misinformation about destroying Indian military assets, such as the S-400 system at Adampur and airfields at Suratgarh and Sirsa. However, satellite imagery and India’s robust air defense performance debunked these claims, showing no significant damage to Indian bases.
The international media has corroborated India’s claims, further highlighting the effectiveness of Operation Sindoor. The New York Times reported that high-resolution satellite imagery showed “clear damage” to Pakistan’s facilities, while The Washington Post confirmed that India’s strikes damaged runways and structures across at least six airfields. Walter Ladwig, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, described the attacks as the “most significant Indian air attacks on Pakistani military infrastructure since the 1971 war,” underscoring their strategic impact.
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