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Operation Sindoor: Decoding India’s Powerful Airstrike Strategy Against Pakistan
Operation Sindoor: A Bold Shift in India’s National Security Doctrine
Context: Operation Sindoor, executed by the Indian Armed Forces, marks a significant shift in India’s military posturing and rules of engagement.
About the Operation
- The operation involved a coordinated aerial assault targeting critical Pakistan Air Force (PAF) infrastructure, effectively neutralising a range of airbases, drone hubs, radar systems, and air defence units.
- It showcases India’s enhanced military preparedness, technological capability, and precision strike capability in modern warfare.
Strategic Objectives of Operation Sindoor
- Neutralisation of offensive capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force.
- Targeting of command and control infrastructure, including key air bases and air defence nodes.
- Disruption of Pakistan’s aerial surveillance and UAV operations.
- A calibrated military response following provocations or asymmetric threats.
Key PAF Installations Targeted and Their Strategic Significance
PAF Base Nur Khan, Rawalpindi (Formerly Chaklala Airfield)
- Located near the Pakistan Army General Headquarters (GHQ) and the Strategic Plans Division (nuclear command).
- Serves as the base for PAF’s Air Mobility Command, VIP transport, and strategic logistics.
- Hosts Lockheed C-130, Il-78 refuellers, and Karakoram-8 trainer jets.
- Striking this base sends a direct message about India’s capability to target high-value strategic military infrastructure.
PAF Base Murid, Chakwal
- Home base for Pakistan’s drone fleet, including:
- Indigenous GIDS Shahpar and NESCOM Burraq
- Chinese Wing Loong II
- Turkish Bayraktar TB2
- By targeting Murid, India aimed to dismantle Pakistan’s growing unmanned aerial capabilities, critical to surveillance and cross-border strikes.
PAF Base Sukkur (Begum Nusrat Bhutto International Airport)
- Dual-use facility (civilian and military), key for northern Sindh.
- Originally built as a WWII military aerodrome, now operates under PAF Southern Command.
- Its disruption affects both military logistics and civilian aviation in southern Pakistan.
PAF Base Rahim Yar Khan
- Operated under Central Air Command.
- It shares its runway with Sheikh Zayed International Airport, funded by the UAE.
- Indian strike created a crater on the runway, halting all flight operations — showcasing India’s ability to debilitate dual-use assets.
PAF Base Mushaf, Sargodha
- Considered Pakistan’s most strategic PAF base.
- Houses:
- F-16 Fighting Falcons
- Chengdu J-7, Mirage 5, JF-17 Thunder
Radar Stations and Air Defence Units Targeted
- Radar Sites:
- Pasrur (Sialkot district, Punjab)
- Chunian (Kasur district, Punjab)
- Lahore, Punjab
- Air Defence Units:
- Lahore (Punjab)
- Malir Cantt (Karachi, Sindh)
- By neutralising radar and air defence capabilities, India ensured air superiority, disrupted enemy situational awareness, and minimised the risk to Indian fighter assets.
- It also hosts the Combat Commanders’ School and Airpower Centre of Excellence.
- Historically targeted in 1965; repeat targeting in 2025 highlights its enduring strategic and symbolic importance.
PAF Base Shahbaz, Jacobabad
- Critical during the US-led War on Terror; previously used by NATO forces.
- Houses:
- JF-17 Block II
- F-16 variants
- Leonardo AW139 helicopters
- Strike on this base disrupts both offensive and humanitarian aviation operations, including search and rescue.PAF Base Rafiqui, Shorkot
- Base for Mirage 5, JF-17, and Alouette III helicopters.
- Located strategically in northern Pakistan, forming part of the Northern Air Command.
- Named after Sq Ldr Sarfaraz Rafiqui, a key figure in the 1965 war — symbolically important for Pakistan’s air force heritage.
PAF Base Bholari, Jamshoro
- Pakistan’s newest and most modern air base, inaugurated in 2017.
- Joint operations with China during Exercise Shaheen IX in 2020.
- Hosts JF-17s, F-16s, and Saab 2000 AEWACs with Erieye radar systems.
- Its destruction affects Pakistan-China defence coordination and airborne early warning capabilities.
Military Implications of Operation Sindoor
- Demonstrated technological edge in terms of:
- Precision strike capabilities
- Drone and missile integration
- Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) tactics
Diplomatic and Legal Dimensions
- Raises questions on compliance with international law, especially UN Charter Article 2(4) on the use of force.
- India may invoke Article 51 (self-defence) if provoked by a cross-border terrorist attack.
- Potential diplomatic fallout with China, Turkey, and Gulf nations with military ties to Pakistan.
- Brings pressure on global powers to reassess their arms exports and support to Pakistan.
- Highlighted coordination between Indian Air Force, Defence Intelligence, and Special Ops.
- Reinforced India’s proactive deterrence strategy post-Uri and Balakot.
Regional Geopolitical Impact
- Forces China and Russia into difficult balancing roles — between India (economic partner) and Pakistan (strategic ally).
- May redefine India’s red lines in cross-border terrorism and non-contact warfare.
- Pakistan may seek international arbitration or escalate diplomatically, but with limited options due to internal instability.
