Islamabad, September 4, 2025 – Pakistan has initiated major reconstruction work at the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, a key VVIP and military hub that suffered heavy damage during India’s Operation Sindoor in May this year.
Fresh satellite imagery from early September reveals new construction activity, including boundary walls and structural foundations at the strike-affected site. The facility, located next to the Chaklala Airfield, was among the high-value targets neutralised by precision strikes during the Indian Air Force’s retaliatory operation.
Military experts suggest that the area previously housed mobile command-and-control units and specialised vehicles that were central to Pakistan Air Force’s air defence network. Their destruction was considered one of the most significant outcomes of Operation Sindoor, forcing Pakistan to clear debris and demolish compromised buildings.
The reconstruction effort now underway appears aimed at restoring the site to its original design, signalling Islamabad’s intent to bring the airbase back to full operational capability. The timing is notable – just days after the airbase continued to serve its VVIP function, with aircraft carrying Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir departing from the runway for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin.
Analysts view the development as an indicator of Pakistan’s determination to quickly rebuild sensitive military infrastructure despite the vulnerabilities exposed by the May strikes. The Nur Khan Airbase, given its proximity to Islamabad and its dual civilian-military role, remains one of the most strategically important installations in the country.
