INVC NEWS Washington, DC, – The global media continues to echo the decisive impact of India’s Operation Sindoor, with The Washington Post now confirming what satellite evidence and military experts have made increasingly undeniable — six major Pakistani airbases were significantly damaged by Indian airstrikes during the four-day cross-border military conflict.
This marks the second major U.S. publication, following The New York Times, to validate India’s strategic superiority in a high-stakes clash that has changed the power dynamics of the region. The Post’s report presents compelling satellite imagery, military analysis, and on-the-record confirmations — delivering a resounding blow to Pakistan’s denial-based propaganda.
India’s Precision Strikes Penetrated Deep Into Pakistani Territory
According to The Washington Post, India’s air operations struck targets up to 100 miles inside Pakistani territory, making this one of the most aggressive and far-reaching strikes in the long history of Indo-Pak military standoffs.
Satellite images captured before and after the operations revealed visible and significant damage to at least six different Pakistani airfields. Analysts identified destruction to runways, aircraft hangars, radar stations, and mobile command centers, effectively disrupting Pakistan’s ability to mount an effective air defense or counterattack.
Among the facilities impacted were:
Noor Khan Air Base (Rawalpindi)
Bholari Air Base
Shahbaz Air Base
Mushaf Air Base
Sheikh Zayed International Airport
Sukkur Airport
Damage Assessment: What Satellite Imagery Reveals
Experts from international defense analysis firms and academic institutions have reviewed high-resolution imagery from Planet Labs and Maxar Technologies, uncovering the extent of the strikes:
1. Noor Khan Air Base – Rawalpindi
Located just outside Islamabad, this strategic transport hub suffered destruction of two mobile control centers, according to geospatial analyst William Goodhind. The base’s proximity to Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division, which oversees the country’s nuclear arsenal, elevates the strategic value of this strike.
2. Bholari Air Base
Imagery revealed a 60-foot-wide hole in the roof of an aircraft hangar, likely from a precision missile. Debris scattered outside the hangar and a collapsed wall confirm the destructive impact.
3. Shahbaz Air Base
Another key military site saw a 100-foot-wide crater rip through a hangar roof, along with damage to its control tower. Analysts confirm that the structure is inoperable following the strike.
4. Sukkur Airport
India’s strike took down a radar station and collapsed a military hangar, further reducing Pakistan’s surveillance and air control capabilities in the southeast.
5. Mushaf Air Base
Indian missiles created multiple large potholes on the main runway, which were still undergoing repairs a day later. Though some patchwork began quickly, experts believe the base’s operational capacity remains compromised.
6. Sheikh Zayed International Airport
Beyond the air force targets, a civilian airport in Rahim Yar Khan was also hit. The Royal Lounge, according to Dawn, sustained extensive damage. Satellite evidence shows runway disruptions and structural destruction.
Expert Consensus: Largest Indian Airstrike Since 1971
International relations experts are calling this operation the most significant and targeted Indian airstrike since the 1971 Indo-Pak war. According to Dr. Walter Ladwig of King’s College London, the scale and depth of the attack are unprecedented in recent decades.
“This was not just symbolic. India clearly targeted key assets to degrade Pakistan’s ability to project air power,” said Ladwig.
William Goodhind emphasized the strategic nature of the targets, pointing to their relevance in Pakistan’s offensive and defensive aerial operations. The strikes weren’t random or retaliatory—they were surgical and designed to dismantle infrastructure critical to the Pakistan Air Force’s response capability.
Even Pakistan Couldn’t Deny the Damage
In a rare admission, Pakistan’s chief military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, confirmed that “some infrastructure at military bases has been damaged.” The Pakistan Army later revealed that six Pakistan Air Force personnel were killed, and missiles had indeed struck five military bases and one civilian airport.
While Chaudhry maintained that most missiles were intercepted, he acknowledged that some penetrated air defenses, causing real harm. This was a marked shift from Pakistan’s initial narrative, which denied any substantial loss.
Operation Sindoor: A Strategic and Symbolic Victory
India’s Operation Sindoor has done more than just damage infrastructure — it has exposed the fragility of Pakistan’s military preparedness, especially at a time when Islamabad was pushing a narrative of resilience and defiance.
The operation has also sent a clear signal to the international community: India now possesses the capability and the political will to carry out deep, high-impact precision strikes when provoked.
This is a turning point in the Indo-Pak conflict trajectory. For decades, Pakistan has leveraged cross-border terrorism under the assumption that India’s response would be restrained. Operation Sindoor breaks that mold.
Global Reaction: Validation and Strategic Implications
The New York Times first reported a “clear edge” for India in satellite-confirmed strikes. Now, The Washington Post’s comprehensive analysis further consolidates the international recognition of India’s military precision, planning, and execution.
The reverberations of this shift are being felt across global capitals, with diplomats, analysts, and military strategists reassessing their regional playbooks. As new alliances and doctrines emerge in South Asia, the geopolitical equation is clearly tilting in India’s favor.
Conclusion: The New Strategic Reality
With Pakistan’s defenses breached and its narratives debunked, India has redrawn the battle lines. The success of Operation Sindoor has implications far beyond the immediate battlefield — it impacts deterrence theory, cross-border engagement policy, and South Asian security architecture.
As global powers watch closely, India’s resolve and capability in defending its sovereignty have set a precedent — one that will shape regional politics, military doctrines, and diplomatic discourse for years to come.
