India appeared to gain a clear upper hand in targeting Pakistan’s military facilities during their recent four-day confrontation, according to a report by The New York Times, which analyzed high-resolution satellite images from before and after the strikes. The report highlights that while both countries engaged in precision drone and missile attacks, the most significant visible damage was inflicted by India on key Pakistani military installations and airfields.
The confrontation, the most intense fighting between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in over 50 years, was triggered after India launched strikes under Operation Sindoor on May 7. The Indian military described the attacks as targeted strikes against terror infrastructure in response to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. Satellite images confirmed damage to strategic Pakistani air bases, including Bholari, Nur Khan, and Sargodha, where runways and hangars were visibly impacted.
According to the NYT report, India’s strikes were particularly effective as the conflict transitioned from symbolic shows of strength to more direct attacks on defense infrastructure. The report noted that Pakistan declared its Rahim Yar Khan air base non-operational on May 10, further supporting claims of successful Indian strikes. Additionally, radar facilities at Pasrur and the Sialkot aviation base were reportedly heavily damaged by Indian precision munitions.
While Pakistan claimed to have inflicted significant damage on Indian military bases, including Udhampur, the NYT report said satellite images from May 12 showed no visible evidence of damage at these sites. The report suggests that India’s advantage stemmed from its focus on degrading Pakistan’s military capabilities, particularly its airfields and defense installations.
Following four days of intense hostilities, which saw both sides exchange missile, drone, and artillery fire, India and Pakistan reached an agreement to halt the conflict on May 10. Despite the ceasefire, the confrontation has left tensions simmering across the region. All reporting credited to Press Trust of India.