India carries out air strikes on three PAF airbases, all assets safe: DG ISPR

KARACHI:

India has carried out airstrikes on three Pakistan Air Force (PAF) bases, Nur Khan, Murid, and Shorkot. In an emergency press conference held in the early hours of Saturday, Director General ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that all PAF assets remained safe.

“Continuing its naked aggression, India some time back has fired air-to-surface missiles with its jets. PAF Nur Khan base, PAF Murid base and Shorkot base were targeted,” he stated.

DG ISPR further confirmed that “the majority” of Indian missiles fired at PAF airbases were successfully intercepted by the armed forces’ defence systems.

He added that the few missiles that managed to evade interception “sneaked in” but, according to initial damage assessment reports, have “not been able to cause any damage” to PAF’s flying assets.

He said that India also targeted Afghanistan, warning that India was now trying to drag the entire region into a catastrophic conflict. “Now you just wait for our response,” the DG ISPR warned.

Earlier, DG ISPR informed that India launched six ballistic missiles from the Adampur airbase in Indian Punjab. Of these, one missile landed near the general area of Adampur itself, while the remaining five struck locations in the Amritsar region.

He characterised the incident as a reckless move that endangered civilian lives and raised serious questions about India’s operational intent and internal targeting protocols.

He asserted that the attacks were not accidental. “India is deliberately targeting Sikh-populated areas in Punjab to incite hostility among Sikhs toward Pakistan,” he stated.

Meanwhile, multiple explosions were reported in Rawalpindi and Lahore in the wee hours of Saturday, prompting security and emergency responses in both cities.

In Rawalpindi, two blasts were heard in the Saddar area, with residents reporting that the sound reached as far as Islamabad, according to Express News.

According to sources, the explosions were heard near Nur Khan Airbase in Chaklala. Sirens were activated in the vicinity, and many residents voluntarily turned off their lights as a precaution.

In Lahore, residents reported loud blasts and the sound of gunfire near Bedian Road and Defence Housing Authority (DHA). Authorities continue to assess the events in both cities.

Speaking at a briefing for foreign media on Friday, the chief military spokesperson challenged India to present evidence, if it has any, of Pakistan’s attacks on Indian military installations with drone and missiles.

“Pakistan has not used drones or rockets. If India claims otherwise, let it present evidence,” he challenged, criticising Indian media for spreading “fabricated stories.”

DG ISPR said that the Pakistani military’s retaliation against India’s aggression was limited to the Indian military posts firing at civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC).

Lt Gen Chaudhry was joined by PAF’s Director General Public Relations (DGPR) Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) Rear Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz.

They briefed the media persons on the evolving situation at the LoC and the broader regional implications. They strongly rejected Indian accusations over the Pahalgam attack, warning that New Delhi’s actions risk destabilising regional peace.