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‘When BrahMos hit Nur Khan base…': Pak PM aide on fears Indian strike triggered in Islamabad
A satellite image shows a view of damaged building at Nur Khan airbase following airstrikes in Rawalpindi. Reuters/File Photo
A senior Pakistani and top aide to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif official has indirectly admitted that India's BrahMos missile strike on the strategic Nur Khan airbase was a turning point during the four-day military conflict between the two countries, and Pakistan had less than 30 seconds to determine if it carried a nuclear warhead.
The statement emphasises on the rogue and irresponsible state of Pakistan and its de-fecto ruler the Army towards handling such dangerous weapons. He also said the attack could have triggered a nuclear war.
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'When India fired the BrahMos and it struck our Nur Khan airbase, the Pakistani government had just 30-45 seconds to figure out if the missile carried a nuclear warhead,' he said. 'Making such a decision in 30 seconds is extremely dangerous.'
Pakistan at its best towards pleasing Trump
Rana Sanaullah Khan, special assistant to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, made the comments in an interview, claiming that it was US President Donald Trump who helped prevent a nuclear crisis.
Previously, their self proclaimed field marshal, Asim Munir even suggested that Trump should receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his alleged role. However, India has rejected these claims, saying it was Pakistan's own military officials who reached out to India to reduce tensions, not the US president.
Operation Sindoor and India's retaliation
The development comes as months ago India targeted terror infrastructure and hubs at nine locations across Pakistan and PoK under Operation Sindoor. It was in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
Pakistan and its nuclear blackmail
Khan warned that the strike could easily have been mistaken for a nuclear attack, potentially leading to a catastrophic war—even though India follows a no-first-use nuclear policy.
'I'm not saying India was right to send a missile without a nuclear payload. But it could have caused a misunderstanding that might have resulted in a nuclear war. The destruction would have been unimaginable,' he said.
Khan credited Trump for stepping in to stop the conflict—a claim India has denied, saying it was Pakistan's own Director General of Military Operations who reached out to the Indian side when tensions peaked on May 10.
'US President Donald Trump played a role in the situation and saved the world from disaster. His role deserves independent recognition and appreciation. The Pakistan government has praised him for this,' Khan added.
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Previously, Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir even suggested that Trump should receive a Nobel Prize for his alleged efforts to end the conflict, reportedly hoping to secure a meeting with the US President.
Strategic importance of Nur Khan airbase
The Pakistani official's remarks highlight Islamabad's concerns following India's strike on Pakistani airbases, especially Nur Khan, which sits just 10 km from Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, and is considered a critical military site.
The base, which surrounds the old Benazir Bhutto International Airport and was once known as RAF Station Chaklala, handles military operations and VIP transport. It houses multiple transport squadrons, aerial refueling units, and the PAF College Chaklala, where future air force officers are trained.
According to The New York Times, the base also serves as a key transport hub for Pakistan's military and hosts aerial refueling capabilities that support the country's fighter jets.
Most significantly, the base lies close to Pakistan's Strategic Plans Division headquarters, which manages and secures Pakistan's nuclear arsenal—now believed to hold at least 170 nuclear warheads spread across various sites nationwide.
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A recent finding in a Gujarat tribal village was finally found to be ultra-fine, micron-sized particles, rendering extraction both technically challenging and financially unfeasible. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has redirected its exploration efforts inland, particularly towards Rajasthan, though no substantial deposits of magnet-grade rare earths have been verified yet, the ET report said. GSI has investigated 51 locations in the past four years, with 16 surveys conducted in FY25, increasing from 10 in FY22. All these sites are situated in Rajasthan, indicating a strategic move away from coastal regions. The outcomes have been limited, with only three locations - examined in FY22 and FY23 - identified for neodymium and related rare earths including dysprosium. These sites remain at the G4 exploration phase (preliminary reconnaissance). Ladi Ka Bas in Rajasthan is the sole site progressed to G2 level, though GSI has not explicitly confirmed the presence of magnet metals there. Who will extract the rare earths? IREL (India) Ltd, operating under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is the exclusive producer of rare earth elements in India. This public sector enterprise maintains the country's monopoly in rare earth production. The organisation extracts rare earths as a secondary product whilst mining beach sand, specifically from monazite, which is classified as a radioactive mineral and falls under atomic energy regulations. Also Read | China plays hardball! After choking rare earth magnets supply, China blocks important agriculture-related shipments to India; continues exports to others To establish an effective magnet supply chain, India requires comprehensive integration across various sectors including mining, separation, refining, materials science and magnet production. Currently, the country lacks these capabilities at a substantial scale. Reports indicate that the Department of Atomic Energy and Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) are in the final stages of developing a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for rare earth magnets. The initiative, allocated Rs 1,000 crore, targets domestic production of 1,500 tonnes of rare earth magnets. This amount represents merely 5% of India's projected requirement of 30,000 tonnes. IREL's contribution will comprise approximately 500 tonnes of raw materials. IREL's core business remains focused on ilmenite, which generates substantial revenue through titanium dioxide pigment production for paints, alongside other industrial minerals including rutile, zircon, and sillimanite. Their involvement in rare earth elements, particularly magnet metals, is currently at a nascent stage, despite increased attention. In collaboration with BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre), IREL has begun developing samarium-cobalt magnets for defence sector applications. The strategic significance of this initiative was highlighted when Prime Minister Modi inaugurated a pilot facility. Defence laboratories are currently evaluating sample deliveries. The company's annual report explicitly acknowledges a significant challenge in its Opportunities and Threats section: "Availability of limited processing technologies and knowhow on rare earths other than China." Also Read | US plans 'economic bunker buster' bill: Will Donald Trump impose 500% tariff on countries importing oil from Russia? How it may impact India Nevertheless, this limitation could potentially transform into an advantage. Once IREL masters the required technology, it could establish itself as an alternative supplier to China, positioning India as a viable secondary source in the global supply chain. India is also seeking international sources to address its deficit. IREL, following governmental guidance, is now exploring rare earth resources in Oman, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Additionally, India has established a strategic partnership with the United States to minimise Chinese reliance. India's Rare Earth Production India holds approximately 6% of worldwide rare earth deposits, yet its production remains stagnant. According to Statista, the country's output stayed constant at 2,900 tonnes from 2012 to 2024, representing merely 1% of worldwide production. India primarily sources its rare earth elements from monazite-containing coastal sands, which yield minimal returns. The Orissa Sands Complex, IREL's principal facility, processes 7.5 million tonnes of sand annually, producing 600,000 tonnes of industrial minerals. Rare earth elements comprise only a small portion, with valuable magnet metals being scarce. The site lacks heavy rare earth elements such as dysprosium and terbium. IREL maintains additional mining operations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with a combined annual rare earth production of 2,900 tonnes, requiring the processing of 10 million tonnes of sand. The majority consists of light rare earth elements including cerium and lanthanum, along with magnet materials such as neodymium and praseodymium. IREL has faced numerous operational constraints preventing expansion of rare earth production during the last ten years, including challenges in securing fresh mining permits, prolonged environmental approvals, limitations due to CRZ guidelines, forestry permissions, and residential settlements. The organisation has located valuable deposits in Odisha's Puri district, though the status of mining authorisations remains uncertain. Local authorities might hesitate to permit mining activities, considering the significance of coastal areas to the region. Price vs Economic Viability Challenge The prices of rare earth metals have significantly declined in recent months, despite a slight recovery, they continue to remain low. This can be understood with the example of Lynas Corporation, the largest producer of neodymium magnets and materials outside China, which reported a substantial decline in profits. Prices of key rare earth metals Their H1 FY25 earnings showed only $5.9 million in profit from $254 million revenue, a sharp decrease from $157 million profits in H1 FY22. India's import statistics reflect this market trend. The country's rare earth magnet imports increased by 88% to 53,700 tonnes in FY25 compared to FY24. However, the value of these imports only grew by 5%, reaching Rs 1,744 crore, suggesting that despite their essential nature, rare earth magnets remain relatively inexpensive. Hence, the economic viability of extracting rare earths presents a significant challenge. The scenario where India allocates Rs 1,000 crore to subsidise 1,500 tonnes of magnet production appears financially unsound, particularly when importing 53,700 tonnes costs just Rs 1,744 crore, the ET report said. This investment would only become viable if domestic production increases substantially and achieves cost-effective manufacturing processes. The financial challenges are highlighted in IREL's FY24 annual report, which states: "The sharp price reduction in rare earth metals and the source of IREL's rare earths vis-à-vis other major producers further complicates matters." What's the way ahead? India's significant increase in magnet imports during FY25 appears to be a strategic accumulation in anticipation of possible Chinese export limitations. This proactive approach explains the relatively calm response from various Indian industrial sectors, as they have likely secured sufficient inventory to manage potential supply constraints, the report said. India's rare earth situation reflects limitations in technical capacity and economic viability rather than lack of intention. The country has long acknowledged its Chinese dependency and sought independence. Achieving a competitive rare earth magnet sector requires persistent exploration, advanced technical collaborations, efficient regulations and substantial governmental backing. The country has reduced rare earth mining royalty to 1% and initiated auctions in 2023. Survey activities continue to increase. This endeavour has only just started and will demand sustained dedication over the coming years. We have a long way to go! Also Read | India bleeds Pakistan dry: Water at 'dead' levels in Pakistan's dams; bigger Indus river plans in the works - top points to know Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
