The Washington Post has released a detailed analysis validating the success of India’s recent military strikes on Pakistan, effectively disproving Islamabad’s claims of victory. These strikes, part of the Indian Armed Forces’ Operation Sindoor, were launched as a retaliatory response to the brutal terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region on April 22, 2025, where 25 tourists and a local guide were mercilessly killed by terrorists.

On May 7, 2025, India targeted terrorist infrastructure within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, inflicting significant damage to terror camps and military installations. The Washington Post’s analysis, backed by satellite imagery and expert commentary, confirms that India’s strikes severely damaged runways, hangars, control centers, and radar installations at at least six Pakistani airfields.

Key Findings of the Washington Post Report

The Washington Post conducted a rigorous review of over two dozen satellite images and video evidence from the aftermath of the strikes. Their report highlights the following:

• Damage to Critical Airbases: The strikes heavily damaged three aircraft hangars, two runways, and several mobile buildings used by the Pakistan Air Force.

• Strategic Depth of Strikes: Some of the Indian targets were located as deep as 100 miles inside Pakistan, showcasing the precision and reach of the operation.

• Significant Impact on Nur Khan Air Base: Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi, one of Pakistan’s most crucial military transport hubs near Islamabad, was hit hard. Two mobile control centers were destroyed, which is significant as the base is close to the Strategic Plans Division, the key unit managing Pakistan’s nuclear warheads.

• Severe Damage at Bholari and Shahbaz Air Bases: Satellite images revealed large holes consistent with missile impacts on hangars housing critical aircraft, including a Saab 2000 Airborne Early Warning and Control System plane at Bholari. Shahbaz air base also showed destruction of hangars and damage to control towers.

• Additional Targets: Other sites such as Sukkur Airport (a dual civilian-military facility) saw damage to radar sites, while Mushaf air base and Sheikh Zayed International Airport had large craters on their runways. Satellite firms Planet and Maxar observed that repair efforts at Mushaf began swiftly after the strikes.

Expert Opinions

The report cites several military experts who emphasize the scale and precision of the Indian air strikes:

• Walter Ladwig, senior lecturer at King’s College London, described the strikes as the most extensive Indian air attacks on Pakistani military infrastructure since the 1971 war, highlighting their strategic importance in the ongoing conflict.

• William Goodhind, geospatial analyst, explained that the strikes aimed to “severely degrade Pakistan’s offensive and defensive air capabilities,” targeting high-value military assets to reduce Pakistan’s operational readiness significantly.

Context and Background

Operation Sindoor was launched following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack, which shocked the nation. The Indian military's response was swift and targeted, focusing on dismantling terror infrastructure and striking Pakistani military airbases to limit future threats.

Despite Pakistan’s government declaring victory and downplaying the extent of the damage, Western media, including the New York Times earlier, and now the Washington Post, have provided independent verification of India’s successful strikes, using satellite imagery and expert analysis.

Conclusion

The Washington Post’s detailed validation of India’s Operation Sindoor underscores the effectiveness of India’s military response to terrorism and its commitment to national security. The comprehensive damage inflicted on key Pakistani airbases and terror infrastructure counters Islamabad’s claims and establishes India’s strategic superiority in this phase of the Indo-Pak conflict.

This development not only reinforces India’s position on the international stage but also sends a strong message against terrorism, emphasizing that any attacks on Indian soil will be met with decisive action.

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