Srinagar Faces PAF Air Raid: Blasts Hit 3 Pak Air Bases Amid Escalating Tensions (Image: X/narne_kumar06)

Srinagar: Powerful explosions were reported early Saturday at three key Pakistani air force installations, including the strategically vital Nur Khan Air Base near Islamabad. The incident follows a night of intense drone activity and military operations along the India-Pakistan border. 

According to NDTV, the blasts occurred at:

• Nur Khan Air Base, Rawalpindi – a logistics and VIP air transport hub located less than 10 kilometres from Islamabad and adjacent to the Pakistan military’s General Headquarters (GHQ).

• Murid Air Base, Chakwal – Pakistan’s primary drone warfare facility.

• PAF Base Rafiqui, Jhang District – a key fighter aircraft base housing Mirage-5 and JF-17 jets.

Eyewitnesses in Rawalpindi reported hearing multiple loud explosions followed by visible fire and heightened military movement in the vicinity of the Nur Khan facility.

Also, read| Civil Flight Operations Suspended In These 32 Airports

Multiple videos circulating on Pakistani social media show plumes of smoke and damaged infrastructure at the site, though these have not been independently verified.

Meanwhile, loud explosions were also heard in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, around the same time. This occurred hours after India’s defence forces repelled a large-scale drone offensive by Pakistan.

Indian media outlets reported six loud blasts during a live broadcast from the region, triggering further concern about a developing aerial conflict.

Hours before the latest escalation in hostilities, former Indian Army Chief General Bikram Singh, in a discussion with NDTV, had warned that India must “completely recalibrate its threshold of tolerance” in dealing with cross-border aggression.

Speaking on NDTV’s special defence segment, Gen. Singh emphasised that the evolving nature of warfare, particularly the increasing use of drones, proxy actors, and hybrid tactics, required India to adopt a firmer and more proactive stance.

The latest incidents come on the heels of a massive drone attack by Pakistan on the night of May 8-9, reportedly involving 300 to 400 drones.

Also, read| India-Pak Live | Pakistan Deploying Military To Forward Areas To Escalate Tensions: Govt

The Indian military claimed the drones, including Turkish-made Asisguard Songar UAVs, targeted over 26 Indian military and civil aviation installations, ranging from Leh in the north to Sir Creek in the south.

India intercepted the majority of these drones using integrated air defence systems, which included:

• Barak-8 and S-400 Triumph missile systems

• Akash surface-to-air missiles

• Indigenous anti-drone and electronic warfare technologies

A senior J&K official was reportedly killed when a Pakistani artillery shell struck his residence in Rajouri, adding to the human toll from the recent escalation.

In response to Saturday morning’s explosions, Pakistan issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), effectively closing its airspace to all civilian and commercial aircraft.

The move comes after Indian officials accused Pakistan of keeping civilian air traffic active during drone operations, posing risks to international flights near the conflict zone.