“Asim Munir woke me up at 2:30 AM”: Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif confirms India’s missile strike on Nur Khan airbase

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has confirmed that India carried out precision missile strikes on the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi and other military sites during Operation Sindoor. He disclosed that Army Chief General Asim Munir personally informed him over a secure line at 2:30 am on the night of May 9-10 about the attacks. This statement marks a rare official acknowledgement of Indian military action inside Pakistan.

The strikes targeted multiple airbases, including Nur Khan (Chaklala, Rawalpindi), Murid (Chakwal), and Rafiqui (Shorkot in Jhang district). Satellite images taken on April 25 and May 10 by Maxar Technologies showed significant damage to Nur Khan Air Base, PAF Base Mushaf in Sargodha, Bholari Air Base, and PAF Base Shahbaz in Jacobabad, confirming the impact of the strikes on these military installations.

Shehbaz Sharif praised the Pakistan Air Force’s response during the confrontation, stating that they used indigenous technology and modern equipment on Chinese jets. Pakistan’s military spokesperson had earlier confirmed that the strikes were carried out by Indian missiles and drones targeting the airbases.

The strikes were part of Operation Sindoor, conducted by India as a retaliatory measure against the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people. Pakistani forces had attempted retaliatory strikes on Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10, leading to a four-day escalation before an understanding was reached to end hostilities.

Indian political leaders responded to Sharif’s confirmation by highlighting the precision and scale of Operation Sindoor. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s IT head described the prime minister’s admission as evidence of the operation’s boldness, while other leaders noted the significance of the strikes deep inside Pakistani territory.