Our Bureau
New Delhi
Fresh satellite imagery and on‑ground visuals show Pakistan has begun extensive repair work at Bholari airbase, one of the key targets struck by the Indian Air Force (IAF) during “Operation Sindoor” in May 2025. The pictures, shared by defence analysts and media outlets, reveal a damaged hangar roof being peeled back and being repaired to restore the facility’s operational capability.
The hangar at Bholari was believed to house a Saab 2000 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, a critical asset for Pakistan’s aerial surveillance along the Line of Control. Before‑and‑after images show a breach in the roof and debris scattered around the structure, indicating a precision strike by Indian Rafale jets armed with SCALP cruise missiles and Hammer guided bombs. Defence experts say the damage could temporarily degrade Pakistan’s ability to monitor Indian airspace and coordinate air‑defence responses.
Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, saw India strike multiple Pakistani airbases, including Bholari, Mushaf, Nur Khan, Sargodha and Jacobabad, alongside terror‑training camps in Muzaffarabad, Bahawalpur and Muridke. Satellite analysis had documented craters on runways, destroyed radar installations and damaged command‑and‑control nodes, underscoring the scale of the campaign.
Pakistan has not formally acknowledged the extent of the damage or the ongoing repairs at Bholari, but the visible reconstruction effort signals a push to normalise operations at one of its strategically sensitive air facilities.
