A swift and volatile confrontation between India and Pakistan on Friday night ended in a US-initiated ceasefire the following day. The catalyst: Pakistan firing a ballistic missile at Sirsa in India and India’s enormous counterattack at 10 Pakistani airfields employing BrahMos, HAMMER, and SCALP missiles.
The anxiety escalated to unprecedented heights when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio asked Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir to ‘get off the accelerator’, emphasizing that it was Munir, and not Pakistan’s civilian government, who was taking the crucial decisions. Fears of a nuclear war hung in the balance until the ceasefire was sealed with US mediation.
The operation directed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was ‘even larger in scale than Operation Sindoor on May 7’, the country’s premier government sources have claimed. India’s rapid and massive counterattack was initiated after Pakistan fired a ballistic missile intercepted and shot down near Sirsa.
India’s reply was not just swift but comprehensive as well. Within a matter of less than 90 minutes, the Indian army struck and annihilated strategic Pakistani military targets such as the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, which is located near the headquarters of the Pakistani Army. The other targets included Rafiqui airbase at Shorkot, Murid airbase at Punjab, Sukkur at Sindh, Sialkot, Sargodha, Skardu, Bholari near Karachi, Jacobabad, and Pasrur airstrip. Furthermore, the Chunian radar station was also destroyed.
These attacks were conducted with BrahMos cruise missiles, Indian Rafale fighter-borne HAMMER and SCALP missiles, making it one of the largest retaliatory operations in Indian history.
Strategic Targets, Heavy Hit on Pakistan
The strategic impact of these attacks was enormous. The Nur Khan base, often utilized for VIP and military transport, is an important logistics and air refueling center of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The New York Times highlighted its importance by stating: “The base is a key installation, one of the central transport hubs for Pakistan’s military and home to the air refueling capability that would keep Pakistani fighters aloft.”. But it is also only a short distance from the headquarters of Pakistan’s Strategic Plans division, which controls and guards the country’s nuclear arsenal.
The destruction of Rafiqui airbase interfered with operations of frontline fighter squadrons, seriously impairing Pakistan’s capacity to mount any effective counter-offensive. At Murid, a major training and missile storage center, India’s attack into the long-term preparedness of the PAF by destroying its pilot training facilities and logistical depth.
The biggest hits, perhaps, were at the Sargodha base, where Pakistan’s Combat Commanders School and top-notch squadrons are stationed. The attack there incapacitated critical components of Pakistan’s nuclear delivery system and command-and-control infrastructure.
In the north theatre, the destruction of the Skardu airbase interfered with Pakistani surveillance and air support services in the vicinity of the Line of Actual Control. It also disrupted any likely coordination with Chinese troops in the high-altitude Himalayas.
India’s attack on Sukkur airbase shattered a large southern military supply line. The airbase had played a pivotal role in movement of troops and equipment throughout Sindh and Balochistan. The Bholari airbase, a modern dual-use facility close to Karachi, was destroyed as well — shattering Pakistan’s southern military ambitions and coastal defense coordination.
Diplomacy on Overdrive as World Watches Nuclear Brinkmanship
When India showed its military superiority, alarm bells started ringing in the capitals around the world. “Millions of good and innocent people could have died!” warned former US President Donald Trump in a Sunday statement. Trump complimented both nations, saying they “showed the strength, wisdom, and fortitude to fully know and understand that it was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much.”
Trump further added: “Your legacy is significantly improved due to your courageous actions. I am glad that the USA could assist in allowing you to make this historic and heroic choice.”
Before announcing the ceasefire, CNN claimed that US Vice President JD Vance had a conversation with Prime Minister Modi after he met Trump. According to reports, Vance warned Modi about the great possibility of drastic escalation and suggested direct communication with Pakistan. During this time, Rubio made contact with Pakistani military commanders, including the most important call to General Munir.
India’s message to the world at that time was steadfast New Delhi would not hold out for outside sanction to defend its citizens. The government clarified that any other terrorist attack will be dealt with as an Act Of War and will be replied to with prompt and unrelenting action.
Operation Sindoor and the Change in India’s Military Doctrine
Previously, on May 7, India had carried out Operation Sindoor in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians. The attacks were aimed at terror launchpads deep within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, killing nine high-value targets, including locations in Bahawalpur and throughout Punjab province.
Government reports characterized the mission as ‘an absolute success’, adding that Indian troops successfully jammed Pakistani air defenses for close to 23 minutes, a tactical achievement that left strategic installations vulnerable.
By once more attacking deep into Pakistani territory just days after the first, India reaffirmed its new strategic stance one of bold, unhesitating military retaliation against terror provocation. These attacks demonstrated India’s ability and willingness to eliminate threats well beyond the LoC.
India’s campaign had also seen non-military means employed. The continuance, albeit in force only in paper terms, of suspending the Indus Waters Treaty was an immense diplomatic pointer. This, joined by careful military strikes and mounting international backing, further cemented Pakistan’s diplomatic isolation.
India’s message for the future is one and only: that it will act on a ‘re-verify and then trust only’ approach towards Pakistan. The ball is now firmly in Islamabad’s court to play sensibly or else.