 "Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of Pakistan Asim Munir, reviews the parade at the passing out ceremony of 151st Long Course at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul, Abbottabad, Pakistan, April 26, 2025. Press Information Department of Pakistan via Reuters")
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated that the Pakistani military forces were caught off guard when India attacked various airbases throughout the nation on the intervening night of May 9-10.
Sharif claimed that the Pakistani Army planned to begin strikes on India on May 10 after morning prayers, but Indian BrahMos missiles rained down before that, causing damage to the air bases.
During an appearance in Azerbaijan, Sharif confirmed that the Rawalpindi airfield was one among the sites targeted by India with the BrahMos missile.
“On the night of May 9-10, we decided to respond in a measured fashion to Indian aggression. Our armed forces were prepared to act at 4.30 in the morning after Fajr prayers to teach a lesson. But before that hour even arrived, India once again launched a missile attack using BrahMos, targeting various provinces of Pakistan, including the airport in Rawalpindi,” Sharif said during his speech in Lachin.
Sharif went on to say that he was told of the strikes by Army Chief Asim Munir, who has since been appointed to Field Marshal.
This is the second time Sharif has highlighted the significance of India’s retaliatory strikes on Pakistani airbases.
Speaking to an audience in Pakistan earlier this month, Sharif disclosed that Gen Munir told him about the May 10 attack on the Nur Khan Air Base and other key targets around 2:30 am.
On Thursday, Gen Munir claimed that Islamabad will never compromise on the water issue since it is linked to the fundamental rights of the country’s 240 million people.
Impact Shorts
View AllAccording to the army, he made the comments while speaking with vice-chancellors from numerous universities, administrators, and top instructors and educators.
“Pakistan will never accept Indian hegemony,” he told reporters.
“Water is Pakistan’s red line, and we will not allow any compromise on this basic right of 240 million Pakistanis,” he stated, alluding to India’s decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty following the Pahalgam terror assault.
Munir further alleged that India supported terrorists in Balochistan, and that militants participating in the province’s instability had ties to the Balochs.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives.
India carried out precision strikes as part of Operation Sindoor on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7. It was followed by Pakistan’s attempt to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10. The Indian side responded strongly to the Pakistani actions.
The on-ground hostilities ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10.