In a stunning moment, a retired Pakistani Air Marshal has admitted that India’s Operation Sindoor successfully destroyed a critical AWACS aircraft at the Bholari air base. This confirmation, coming from within Pakistan’s own military elite, shatters all remaining denials about the impact of India’s May 9–10 precision strikes.
BrahMos Rains on Bholari
Speaking to Pakistani journalist Sohrab Barkat, Retired Air Marshal Masood Akhtar revealed that Indian forces launched four BrahMos missiles in rapid succession. He stated, “The pilots rushed to secure their aircraft, but the missiles kept on coming, and unfortunately the fourth one hit the hangar at Bholari, where one of our AWACS was standing.”
The hangar, housing the sophisticated surveillance aircraft, was destroyed, along with reported casualties including Squadron Leader Usman Yusuf. Satellite images released by Maxar Technologies show the hangar’s roof completely devastated post-strike.
What Bholari Meant for Pakistan
Commissioned in 2017, Bholari air base was one of Pakistan’s newest strategic military assets. Its AWACS aircraft formed the backbone of Pakistan’s aerial surveillance and command structure. AWACS enables early detection of threats, battlefield management, and airspace dominance—a capability Pakistan can now no longer rely on.
This loss is a crippling blow to PAF’s air defense grid. Ironically, despite boasting AWACS capabilities, Pakistan failed to intercept India’s incoming BrahMos strikes.
Operation Sindoor: Precision with Purpose
The Bholari strike was part of India’s broader Operation Sindoor launched on May 7 to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack where 26 Hindu pilgrims were brutally killed by Pakistani-sponsored jihadists.
India has so far struck 9 terror camps, 10 military bases, air defense positions, and 2 major communication hubs. Bholari’s strike falls into the highest tier of strategic punishment delivered with surgical precision.
Satellite Proof: Denial Crumbles
Before-and-after satellite images of Bholari leave no room for ambiguity. An intact hangar on April 27 stood obliterated by May 11. The evidence not only validates India’s claims but makes it impossible for Pakistan to continue its denialist charade.
Strategic Fallout
The admission by a Pakistani Air Marshal is more than symbolic. It exposes the vulnerability of Pakistan’s defense network and the overwhelming superiority of India’s strike capabilities. It also explains Pakistan’s panicked ceasefire calls and behind-the-scenes diplomatic scrambling post-Operation Sindoor.
While Islamabad may continue its propaganda for domestic consumption, the truth is now out in the open. India has rewritten the rules of engagement, and Pakistan’s skies are no longer safe for its most prized military assets.