Pakistan repairs airbases for months after Operation Sindoor strikes
Updated
Updated · India Today · May 6
Pakistan repairs airbases for months after Operation Sindoor strikes
10 articles · Updated · India Today · May 6
Satellite analysis of eight Pakistan Air Force bases found average repairs took six to seven months, while Bholari still showed restoration work in March 2026, nearly a year later.
Murid and Sukkur appeared so badly damaged that structures were likely demolished before rebuilding, while Rahim Yar Khan's runway reopened only in September 2025 after about 120 days.
India says it struck 11 defence locations and nine terror sites after the Pahalgam attack; imagery also showed fresh repair activity at compounds in Bahawalpur and Muzaffarabad.
Pakistan's military gained more power after the strikes, but can it rebuild while terror groups simply restructure under its watch?
Did Operation Sindoor end Pakistan's nuclear blackmail or just raise the stakes for the next, more dangerous, conflict?
With Chinese stealth fighters arming Pakistan, is South Asia heading towards an even deadlier conventional war?
One Year Post-Operation Sindoor: Pakistan’s Air Force Degradation and Strategic Fallout
Overview
Operation Sindoor in May 2025 severely damaged 11 key Pakistani airbases, destroying critical infrastructure and military assets, and causing significant personnel losses. This crippled Pakistan's air force, forcing a ceasefire and leaving repairs incomplete over a year later, which continues to limit Pakistan's air defense and power projection. In response, Pakistan has begun defensive upgrades and reconsidered command center security, but these efforts strain its fragile economy, diverting resources from social programs. Meanwhile, India validated its strategy of precise conventional strikes but recognized gaps in air defense and command systems, prompting military reforms. These developments have reshaped regional dynamics, increasing the risk of escalation and accelerating an arms race, making South Asia's security environment more unstable.