India’s colonel: Pakistan's retaliatory attacks cause significant damage at Indian airbases

India’s Colonel Sophia Qureshi of the Army Signal Corps has confirmed that Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes caused extensive damage to Indian equipment and personnel at several airbases.

The attacks targeted "more than 26 places" across India, with key facilities at five airbases suffering significant losses, Caliber.Az reports per Pakistani newspaper.

During a press conference, which was held alongside Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Qureshi addressed the damage inflicted following Pakistan’s military response to India’s late-night offensive on its three airbases.

"Pakistan tried to infiltrate via air at more than 26 places, and they damaged our equipment and personnel at air force bases in Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, Bhuj and Bathinda," Colonel Qureshi stated.

Note that Pakistan's officials have confirmed that its counteroffensive against India, named Operation Bunyan Marsoos – meaning "wall of lead" in Arabic – has commenced.

According to an updated report, Pakistan's retaliatory actions, prompted by accusations that India targeted three of its military bases, represent a significant escalation in the escalating conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations.

A military spokesperson for Pakistan announced the operation in a live broadcast on state television early on Saturday, stating that India had struck Nur Khan, Murid, and Shorkot bases.

As reported by Shah Meer Baloch and Hannah Ellis-Petersen, Nur Khan air base, located in Rawalpindi – approximately 10km from Islamabad – is home to Pakistan’s military headquarters. Social media footage showed flames and smoke rising into the night sky.

The early morning airstrikes on Nur Khan, in the densely populated Rawalpindi area, caused widespread panic, with residents fleeing into the streets. India’s attempted strikes on Rawalpindi and other key military installations, alongside the launch of Pakistan's counterattack, marks the most severe escalation in their confrontation in years, bringing the two nations closer to war than they have been in decades.

By Aghakazim Guliyev