 "A satellite image shows a view of damaged building at Nur Khan airbase following airstrikes in Rawalpindi. Reuters/File Photo")
A senior Pakistani and top aide to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif official has indirectly admitted that India’s BrahMos missile strike on the strategic Nur Khan airbase was a turning point during the four-day military conflict between the two countries, and Pakistan had less than 30 seconds to determine if it carried a nuclear warhead.
The statement emphasises on the rogue and irresponsible state of Pakistan and its de-fecto ruler the Army towards handling such dangerous weapons. He also said the attack could have triggered a nuclear war.
“When India fired the BrahMos and it struck our Nur Khan airbase, the Pakistani government had just 30-45 seconds to figure out if the missile carried a nuclear warhead,” he said. “Making such a decision in 30 seconds is extremely dangerous.”
Pakistan at its best towards pleasing Trump
Rana Sanaullah Khan, special assistant to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, made the comments in an interview, claiming that it was US President Donald Trump who helped prevent a nuclear crisis.
Previously, their self proclaimed field marshal, Asim Munir even suggested that Trump should receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his alleged role. However, India has rejected these claims, saying it was Pakistan’s own military officials who reached out to India to reduce tensions, not the US president.
Operation Sindoor and India’s retaliation
The development comes as months ago India targeted terror infrastructure and hubs at nine locations across Pakistan and PoK under Operation Sindoor. It was in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
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Khan warned that the strike could easily have been mistaken for a nuclear attack, potentially leading to a catastrophic war—even though India follows a no-first-use nuclear policy.
“I’m not saying India was right to send a missile without a nuclear payload. But it could have caused a misunderstanding that might have resulted in a nuclear war. The destruction would have been unimaginable,” he said.
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More ShortsKhan credited Trump for stepping in to stop the conflict—a claim India has denied, saying it was Pakistan’s own Director General of Military Operations who reached out to the Indian side when tensions peaked on May 10.
“US President Donald Trump played a role in the situation and saved the world from disaster. His role deserves independent recognition and appreciation. The Pakistan government has praised him for this,” Khan added.
Previously, Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir even suggested that Trump should receive a Nobel Prize for his alleged efforts to end the conflict, reportedly hoping to secure a meeting with the US President.
Strategic importance of Nur Khan airbase
The Pakistani official’s remarks highlight Islamabad’s concerns following India’s strike on Pakistani airbases, especially Nur Khan, which sits just 10 km from Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, and is considered a critical military site.
The base, which surrounds the old Benazir Bhutto International Airport and was once known as RAF Station Chaklala, handles military operations and VIP transport. It houses multiple transport squadrons, aerial refueling units, and the PAF College Chaklala, where future air force officers are trained.
According to The New York Times, the base also serves as a key transport hub for Pakistan’s military and hosts aerial refueling capabilities that support the country’s fighter jets.
Most significantly, the base lies close to Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division headquarters, which manages and secures Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal—now believed to hold at least 170 nuclear warheads spread across various sites nationwide.