NYT, Washington Post analysed Indo-Pak military clash; here’s what they found

India appeared to hold a decisive advantage in targeting Pakistan’s military installations and airbases during the recent four-day conflict, according to a New York Times investigation based on satellite imagery.

The Washington Post, too, concluded, a visual analysis, that India's strikes on Pakistan damaged runways and structures across at least six airfields, which experts said were the most significant attacks of their kind in decades of simmering conflict between the two nations.

Also Read: 'Satellite pictures proof enough': MEA debunks Pak claims of attacking Indian bases

Most expansive attack since 1971

The four-day military clash is the most expansive military exchange between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in over 50 years, as both sides used drones and missiles to test each other’s air defences and hit military facilities. Each country claimed to have inflicted heavy damage on the other’s military assets, the NYT report said.

Walter Ladwig, a senior lecturer in international relations at King's College London, told the Washington Post that the strikes marked "the most extensive Indian air attacks on Pakistani military infrastructure since the 1971 war."

Satelite images confirm damage

High-resolution images captured before and after the confrontation revealed visible damage inflicted on Pakistani facilities by Indian precision strikes.

A review of over 24 satellite images and aftermath videos found that the strikes heavily damaged three hangars, two runways and a pair of mobile buildings used by the air force. Some of the sites that were hit by India were as deep as 100 miles inside Pakistan.

William Goodhind, a geospatial analyst, told The Washington Post that "high-profile targets were hit in precision strikes with the aim of severely degrading Pakistan's offensive and defensive air capabilities".

Christopher Clary, author of a book on the India-Pakistan rivalry, told the Post, "The satellite evidence is consistent with the claim that the Indian military inflicted meaningful damage on the Pakistan air force at a number of bases across eastern Pakistan."

Also Read: Op Sindoor: Satellite pics show ‘before-after’ comparisons of strikes on Pak terror camps

Precision warfare

Despite the widespread nature of the attacks, the NYT report noted that the actual destruction was far more contained than claimed. However, most of the damage appeared to have been inflicted by India on Pakistani facilities.

In this age of high-tech warfare, both countries executed precisely targeted operations. India, however, stood out for its precision in targeting of Pakistan’s military facilities and airfields — particularly as the confrontation escalated from symbolic shows of force to attacking each other’s defence capabilities, the report said.

Following the strikes, India has said that it has hit 11 bases in Pakistan and termed its actions "measured and calibrated", including the sites where The Washington Post confirmed damage.

High-value target

One of the most sensitive sites targeted was the Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, located approximately 15 miles from Pakistan’s Army headquarters and the Prime Minister’s office, and in close proximity to the unit responsible for safeguarding Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

The NYT report noted that it was "perhaps the most sensitive military target that India struck." After reviewing satellite imagery, Washington Post reported that two mobile control centres were destroyed at Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi, just outside Islamabad. Video from a nearby parking lot showed smoke billowing from the damaged site.

Also Read: Indian army denies targeting Pakistan's nuclear facility at Kirana Hills

Pakistani military bases hit

At Pakistan’s Bholari air base — located under 100 miles from Karachi — India reportedly struck an aircraft hangar with a precision attack. Satellite visuals showed clear damage to what looks like a hangar, the NYT report said.

India claimed to have struck runways and other facilities at some of Pakistan’s key air bases, corroborated by satellite images. Pakistan, on May 10, issued a notice for the Rahim Yar Khan air base saying that the runway was not operational.

Sargodha air base in Punjab Province in Pakistan was also targeted, with the Indian military reportedly using precision munitions to strike two sections of the runway.

Sheikh Zayed Airport's Royal Lounge has been damaged significantly, The Washington Post reported, citing Pakistan-based newspaper Dawn.

Also Read: Op Sindoor: IAF took ‘23 mins’ to jam Pak’s China-made defence systems, complete mission

Pakistan’s claims unverified

While Pakistani officials claimed to have struck multiple Indian military facilities, satellite evidence supporting those assertions was limited.

Satellite images do not clearly show damage caused by Pakistani strikes even at bases where there was corroborating evidence of some military action, NYT reported.

Notably, Pakistan’s claim of having "destroyed" India’s Udhampur air base was contradicted by satellite imagery from May 12, which showed no signs of visible impact.

Operation Sindoor

In retaliation for the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 and targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

In response, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10. The Indian armed forces launched a fierce counter-attack targeting Pakistani military installations at Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian.

Radar installations at Pasrur and the Sialkot aviation base were also hit using precision munitions, reportedly causing significant damage.

Also Read: PM Modi visits Adampur air base, interacts with IAF personnel

After four days of intense missile and drone exchanges, India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to cease the hostilities.

(With agency inputs)