New Delhi/Islamabad — May 13, 2025 — Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply following the release of satellite imagery confirming that Indian Air Force (IAF) jets conducted precision strikes on multiple Pakistani air bases. The high-resolution images, analyzed by defense experts and open-source intelligence platforms, reveal direct hits on strategic military installations, intensifying regional and international concern.
The images, taken by independent commercial satellite firms within 24 hours of the airstrikes, depict clear structural damage to at least three key airbases across Pakistan’s Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. These bases reportedly housed aircraft and radar systems linked to recent cross-border activities that India attributes to state-sponsored terrorist groups operating from Pakistani soil.
Image shows the before and after missile impact at Pasrur Air Defence Radar, Chunian Air Defence Radar, Arifwala Air Defence Radar.
Image shows the before and after missile impact at Sargodha Airfield, Rahim Yar Khan Airfield, Chaklala Airfield (Nur Khan), Sukkur Airfield, Bholari Airfield, and Jacobabad Airfield.
Background: Cross-Border Attack Sparks Retaliation
The military action follows a deadly cross-border terrorist attack on May 7, 2025, in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 11 Indian soldiers and injured dozens more. Indian intelligence agencies traced the attackers to a militant group operating in Pakistan, with alleged support from elements within the Pakistani military.
In a closed-door meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), Indian leadership authorized a “targeted retaliatory response.” Within 48 hours, reports of Indian fighter jets crossing the Line of Control (LoC) surfaced, though Indian officials initially declined to comment on the operation’s details.
Satellite Imagery Confirms Airstrikes
The satellite imagery, released by U.S.-based firm GeoEye Solutions and corroborated by European defense monitors, shows burnt runways, bomb craters, destroyed hangars, and debris around previously undamaged military installations.
At least three airbases — Sargodha, Mianwali, and Peshawar — appear to have sustained direct impacts. Analysts note that the attack seemed calculated to avoid civilian areas, focusing instead on air assets, control towers, and radar systems.
Rahul Bansal, a senior analyst with the Indian Defense Review, said, “The precision of the strikes suggests the use of guided munitions and possibly satellite-assisted targeting. These were not symbolic attacks — they were designed to degrade Pakistan’s retaliatory capabilities.”
Indian Government Maintains Strategic Ambiguity
Despite mounting evidence, the Indian government has neither officially confirmed nor denied the operation. In a press briefing on May 12, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated, “India reserves the right to defend its people and territory. We remain committed to peace, but will not tolerate acts of terror emanating from across the border.”
Sources within the defense establishment, however, have provided limited confirmation, describing the operation as a “measured and successful action to eliminate high-value threats.”
This approach of strategic ambiguity — echoing India’s past posturing after the Balakot airstrike in 2019 — allows the government to avoid diplomatic fallout while signaling its resolve to adversaries.
Pakistan Responds with Denial and Warning
The Pakistani military initially denied any successful airstrikes had occurred, calling the reports “fabricated propaganda.” However, following the release of satellite imagery, Pakistani defense spokesperson Major General Arif Qureshi admitted that “an aerial intrusion took place,” though he claimed their air defenses “minimized the impact.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned the action as a violation of its sovereignty and warned of “serious consequences” if such provocations continue. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council and urged the United Nations to intervene.
In an official statement, Sharif said, “India’s actions are reckless and endanger the peace of South Asia. Pakistan will take all necessary measures to protect its people and its territory.”
International Community Urges Restraint
World leaders have reacted swiftly, urging both nuclear-armed nations to exercise restraint and pursue dialogue. The United States Department of State issued a statement calling for “de-escalation and immediate diplomatic engagement.”
Similarly, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern, noting, “This is a moment for diplomacy, not confrontation. The UN stands ready to facilitate peace efforts.”
China and Russia, both key regional players with strategic ties to Pakistan and India respectively, have also urged calm while offering to mediate if required.
Military Analysts Weigh In
Experts in international security see this development as a turning point in India’s evolving defense posture. “India is clearly signaling a shift from a reactive to a proactive doctrine when it comes to national security threats,” said Dr. Sunita Rao, a professor of Strategic Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
She added, “The use of satellite-guided precision strikes, the silence from officials, and the timing all indicate a calculated message — that India will not wait for another major attack to respond.”
Defense experts also believe this may set a precedent for how future conflicts are documented and interpreted. With the availability of commercial satellite imagery, denials and misinformation are harder to sustain.
The Role of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
The role of open-source intelligence in confirming these strikes has been crucial. Platforms such as Bellingcat and satellite analysts on X (formerly Twitter) were among the first to identify crater patterns and damage signatures matching typical air-to-ground missile impacts.
“This is warfare in the age of transparency,” said Arnav Mehta, an independent OSINT analyst. “Anyone with a computer and the right tools can verify government claims or expose military actions that states prefer to keep quiet.”
This dynamic has reshaped how media outlets and the public interpret unfolding geopolitical events, often putting pressure on governments to clarify their positions more quickly than in previous eras.
Impact on India-Pakistan Relations
The confirmed strikes mark one of the most significant military confrontations between India and Pakistan in recent years. Though both countries have engaged in cross-border skirmishes frequently along the LoC, direct airstrikes on military infrastructure represent a dangerous escalation.
Diplomatic backchannels, including those facilitated by Gulf nations, are reportedly working overtime to prevent further escalation. However, mistrust remains deep-rooted, and without visible efforts toward dialogue, fears of another military escalation loom large.
Conclusion: A Critical Juncture for South Asia
The confirmation of India’s airstrikes on Pakistani air bases through satellite imagery underscores the growing volatility in the region and the increasing role of technology in shaping narratives and outcomes in modern conflict.
As both sides weigh their next steps, the international community watches closely. What happens in the next few days could define the trajectory of South Asian geopolitics for years to come — either toward dangerous escalation or a renewed push for peace.
