Satellites reveal more damage inflicted by India at Pak bases

New satellite imagery has provided further details of the damage caused by India's military strikes of May 10 on Pakistan's Murid and Nur Khan airbases, among that country's frontline air force facilities that house aerial refueling aircraft and combat drones.

- Rezaul H Laskar

NEW DELHI:

The high-resolution, before-and-after satellite images of Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi — provided to Hindustan Times by Maxar Technologies — show the destruction of two large trucks, thought to be command and control vehicles, and the demolition of a nearly 7,000 sq ft structure in the aftermath of the Indian strikes.

This airbase is located close to both the Pakistan Army's General Headquarters and the Strategic Plans Division, the body responsible for overseeing Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.

One image of Nur Khan air-base from May 10 clearly shows the debris from the two large trucks and damage to an adjacent building.

Another image from May 17 shows the damaged building has been demolished, with earthmovers present at the site.

Damien Symon, a geo-intelligence researcher at The Intel Lab, said the building, a likely operations complex, covered approximately 7,000 square feet and was located close to the blast zone where two large trucks were destroyed.

"However, the proximity of the building likely exposed it to significant physical and systemic damage, possibly affecting wiring, internal components and structural integrity. The airport administration's decision to dismantle it altogether suggests restoration was either uneconomical or not viable due to the extent of damage," he said.