Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has made a stunning admission: Indias Operation Sindoor drone strikes in May did indeed damage the critical Nur Khan airbase near Rawalpindi. Speaking at a year-end press briefing, Dar revealed that Indian forces unleashed around 80 drones over just 36 hours, with Pakistani defenses managing to shoot down 79—but one slipped through, injuring personnel and wrecking parts of the Chaklala facility.

This comes as a sharp turnaround from Pakistans initial denials during the tense four-day clash that kicked off on May 7. India had launched the operation in retaliation for the brutal April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, where 26 civilians lost their lives. What started as precision hits on nine terror camps quickly escalated, with strikes expanding to 11 Pakistani airbases like Sargodha, Rafiqui, Jacobabad, and Murid—Nur Khan being one of the most strategically vital, sitting right next to Pakistans military headquarters.

Satellite imagery from firms like Maxar, released back in May, had already shown scorch marks and disruptions at these sites, backing up New Delhis claims despite Islamabads early brush-offs. The two sides eventually stood down around May 10 through quiet back-channel diplomacy, but Dars words now lend official weight to the idea that Indias drone swarm tactics overwhelmed Pakistans radars and forced tough choices.

For India, this feels like vindication—proof that Operation Sindoor packed a real punch deep into enemy territory. Pakistan, meanwhile, spins it as a defensive win, highlighting those 79 intercepts to project strength. Yet the real story here goes deeper into how South Asias nuclear rivals are evolving their game. Drone saturation attacks like this one test air defenses in ways manned jets never could, creating chaos even if most get zapped. It puts fresh pressure on both sides to ramp up counter-drone tech, scatter high-value assets, and maybe even roll out decoys or bunkers at bases that were once seen as safe. As tensions simmer along the border, this admission isnt just history—its a loud signal. Drones are rewriting the rules of India-Pakistan skirmishes, blending high-tech precision with the old risks of missteps that could spiral out of control.

​Disclaimer: This image is taken from AFP