‘Biggest threat is if India launches...’: Nawaz Sharif’s aide admits Pakistan’s air bases severely hit in Op Sindoor

Islamabad: Pakistan’s political commentator and former Punjab caretaker chief minister Najam Sethi has openly contradicted Islamabad’s claims about the recent India-Pakistan conflict, admitting that Indian forces successfully targeted Pakistani air bases and “offices of freedom fighters” during Operation Sindoor on May 9–10.

‘India demonstrated missile precision’

Sethi, a close aide of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said Indian strikes caused serious damage to Pakistan’s key installations.

“India has demonstrated this time that with the missile technology and missile accuracy, they were able to target both your bases and offices of so-called freedom fighters. They have demonstrated that (precision strikes) whether via air or ground attack,” Sethi said in an interview with Samaa TV.

He further cautioned about the risks to Pakistan’s air force:

“The biggest threat is that if they (India) launch a missile strike against your air bases, where your planes are parked, a lot of damage can happen.”

Lack of defence systems

Sethi acknowledged that Pakistan’s defence infrastructure was inadequate to counter Indian missile strikes, highlighting the absence of advanced defence systems.

“We saw what our drawbacks were. Currently, we don't have any defence system like S-400 or Iron Dome, through which we can protect ourselves against Indian missile attacks,” he admitted.

India currently possesses the Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defence system, while Israel’s Iron Dome has been globally recognised for intercepting incoming aerial threats.

Contradictions in Pakistan’s official claims

Sethi’s remarks came shortly after Islamabad’s continued propaganda campaign denying any damage during the May conflict. 

Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, even went as far as to claim that India was “forced to beg for a ceasefire” and that then US President Donald Trump had mediated.

However, New Delhi has maintained that the ceasefire was reached directly between the two militaries through Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) level talks, with no outside mediation.

Pakistan suffered a Rs 123 crore loss

Earlier, Dawn reported that the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) had incurred a revenue loss of nearly Rs 123 crore after shutting its airspace to Indian aircraft.

The airspace ban was imposed on April 24, a day after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty. Under the restrictions, Pakistan barred all Indian-registered aircraft and those operated, owned, or leased by Indian carriers from using its skies. The move affected around 100–150 Indian flights daily, slashing overall transit traffic by nearly 20 per cent.