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'Pak lost an AWACS': How Islamabad's losses are coming out, one admission at a time
Pakistan appears to have begun acknowledging the losses it suffered after India's Operation Sindoor. Retired Air Marshal Masood Akhtar, former chief of the Pakistan Air Force, said in an interview that Pakistan lost an AWACS aircraft when an Indian missile struck the Bholari airbase near Karachi. Also, in its first admission of air force casualties, Islamabad confirmed that 11 military personnel were killed during the confrontation with India read more
A satellite image shows a view of damaged building at Nur Khan airbase following airstrikes in Rawalpindi. Reuters/File Photo
Days after the success of India's 'Operation Sindoor', Pakistan's losses are now emerging one admission at a time.
A former Pakistan Air Force chief recently revealed that Islamabad lost its Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft in an Indian missile strike on the Bholari airbase near Islamabad.
Soon after 'Operation Sindoor', Pakistan tried to spread false claims about damage in India to create panic among people. These claims were later debunked by PIB Fact Check and several defence officials.
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Now, however, it appears that Pakistan has begun to acknowledge the losses it suffered.
In this explainer, we look at the admissions made so far by Pakistan in connection to India's 'Operation Sindoor'.
Let's find out:
Losing AWACS aircraft in Indian strikes
Retired Air Marshal Masood Akhtar, former chief of the Pakistan Air Force, has said in an interview that Pakistan lost an AWACS aircraft during Indian missile strikes on the night of May 9 and 10. The strikes targeted 11 military locations.
Notably, India's missile strike hit the Bholari airbase near Karachi. Indian defence officials confirmed the damage, and satellite images from Maxar Technologies supported these claims.
'They (Indian armed forces) fired four back-to-back Brahmos missiles…the (Pakistani) pilots rushed to secure their aircraft, but the missiles kept on coming and, unfortunately, the fourth one hit the hangar at Bholari (airbase), where one of our AWACS was standing. It was damaged and casualties were also reported…' he said in the interview.
Bholari is Pakistan's newest airbase and was the site of the 'Shaheen IX' joint aerial drill with China in 2020. Inaugurated in December 2017, it is considered one of Pakistan's most advanced operational airbases, according to reports.
A satellite image shows a view of a damaged structure at Bholari air base following airstrikes in Bholari, Pakistan. Reuters File
AWACS, or Airborne Warning and Control System, is a mobile, long-range radar system that plays a key role in Pakistan's air defence operations.
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On May 10, India targeted 11 military sites across Pakistan. These included airbases in Nur Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sukkur, Sialkot, Pasrur, Chunian, Sargodha, Skardu, Bholari, and Jacobabad.
According to the Indian government, the overnight strikes was a historic moment, as this was the first time a country had successfully attacked the airbases of a nuclear-armed nation in a single operation.
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Pakistani aircraft suffered 'minor damage'
On Sunday, May 11, Pakistan's military said that one of its aircraft had suffered 'minor damage' in the clash with India.
The admission came after India stated it had shot down several Pakistani aircraft while responding to Pakistan's escalation following Operation Sindoor.
Speaking at a press briefing with air force and navy officials, Pakistan Army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said 'only one aircraft' had sustained 'minor damage'. He did not share further information about the type of aircraft.
Pakistan admits 11 military personnel killed
On Tuesday, May 13, Pakistan confirmed that 11 of its military personnel were killed during its confrontation with India.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), six of those killed were army soldiers, while the remaining five belonged to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
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This was the first time Pakistan admitted to losing air force personnel, including chief technician Aurangzeb, during India's 'Operation Sindoor'. The acknowledgement gave credence to the Indian Air Force's statement that it brought down a few planes of the PAF.
Pakistan also said that 78 personnel were injured during 'Operation Bunyan-al-Marsus', which it launched on May 9 and 10. The operation targeted 26 sites across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat using drones and missiles. However, all incoming threats were intercepted or blocked by India's air defence systems.
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Pakistan admits no Indian pilot captured
Pakistan clarified that it did not capture any Indian pilot.
Speaking at a press conference with air force and navy officials on Sunday, Pakistan Army spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the reports were false and based on 'fake social media reports'.
His comment came after several pro-Pakistan social media accounts claimed that an Indian Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, had been captured. This was previously denied by PIB Fact Check, which labelled the claim 'fake'.
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Pakistan minister admits 'doing dirty work for US, West'
Soon after the terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people in India, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitted the country's history of backing terror groups as 'dirty work' for the West, a move he called a mistake that has cost Pakistan.
In an interview with Sky News, he said, 'Well, we have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades, you know, and the West, including Britain.'
Operation Sindoor
On May 7, India launched precise and coordinated strikes on terror infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, under the codename Operation Sindoor.
The operation resulted in the killing of over 100 terrorists, including those linked to the IC-814 hijacking and the Pulwama attack of 2019.
As tensions escalated, both sides exchanged drone and missile attacks, bringing them close to a full-blown war.
Debris of drones and other munitions from Pakistan, found after being destroyed by air defence units following an attack from the neighbouring country, in Amritsar. PTI
On the evening of May 10, more than 100 hours into the confrontation, a ceasefire was declared after Pakistan reached out to India to halt the fighting.
With Operation Sindoor, India showed that it would act against terrorism wherever it may exist, sending a clear message that those behind such attacks would not be safe anywhere.
With inputs from agencies
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