Imtiaz Gul, a Pakistani security expert, has caused a great deal of controversy by asserting that the US effectively controls the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi.
The existence of long-standing and secret operational agreements between the United States and Pakistan is suggested by Gul’s claim in a widely shared video that even senior Pakistan Army officers are not allowed to meddle in the operations of this strategically important airbase.
Gul’s claim is especially noteworthy because of the airbase’s proximity to Rawalpindi, the Pakistan Army’s headquarters, and just 10 kilometers from Islamabad. Concerns regarding national security and sovereignty are heightened by the base’s proximity to the Strategic Plans Division, which is in charge of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
The Nur Khan airbase is the command center for air mobility operations and is home to Pakistan’s primary air transport squadrons, which include C-130 Hercules and IL-78 mid-air refuelers. Important training facilities like Fazaia Inter College Nur Khan and PAF College Chaklala are also housed there.
A VVIP aircraft that matched the description given by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif may have been at the Nur Khan airbase at the time of the Indian Air Force (IAF) strikes on May 10, according to flight tracking data and exclusive satellite imagery examined by India Today’s Open-Source Investigation (OSINT) team. This underscores the strategic sensitivity and vulnerability of the nation’s most significant airbase, India Today reported
According to flight tracking data and exclusive satellite imagery analyzed by India Today’s Open-Source Investigation (OSINT) team, a VVIP aircraft that fit the description provided by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif might have been at the Nur Khan airbase when the Indian Air Force (IAF) struck on May 10. According to India Today, this highlights the strategic sensitivity and vulnerability of the country’s most important airbase.
The controversy stems from India’s Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which involved a precision strike on the Nur Khan airbase. The airbase sustained significant damage as a result of the strike, underscoring its strategic and symbolic significance in the area.
The base’s close proximity to the Strategic Plans Division and the primary command centers of the Pakistan Army highlights the seriousness of Gul’s accusations and the possible ramifications for Pakistan’s security framework.
The Pakistani government and military have not formally confirmed or denied the US claim of control over the Nur Khan airbase, despite the intense discussion and worry generated by Gul’s remarks. The absence of an official response has only heightened public scrutiny and prompted more inquiries about the nature of military cooperation between the United States and Pakistan and the transparency of such agreements.
At one of Pakistan’s most sensitive military installations, Imtiaz Gul’s allegations have sparked a national discussion about sovereignty, military transparency, and foreign influence. The public and strategic community in Pakistan are still waiting for an official explanation of the actual status of the Nur Khan airbase, so the matter is still unresolved.
