Nur Khan airbase under US control, even army officers kept out, claims Pakistani security expert

In a stunning admission, Pakistani security expert Imtiaz Gul has claimed that the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi – a key military installation – may effectively be under American control.

The revelation, made via a viral social media video, suggests that even senior officers of the Pakistan Army are reportedly not allowed to interfere with operations at the base, which is located in one of the country’s most sensitive military zones.

Gul’s statement comes just days after India’s precision strike on the Nur Khan Airbase as part of Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory mission launched in response to the brutal Pahalgam terror attack.

Pakistani expert Imtiaz Gul claims that American aircraft frequently operate out of the Nur Khan airbase with little transparency about their missions or cargo. He suggested that secretive US-Pakistan agreements may be in place, raising concerns over national sovereignty and military accountability.

Gul’s claim furthers suspicion that Pakistan's military-industrial complex is riddled with external interference, particularly from the United States, which has long used Pakistani soil for covert operations—ranging from drone strikes to surveillance missions—often with little or no transparency.

The Nur Khan airbase at Chaklala in Rawalpindi is located at short distance from the Strategic Plans Division.  It oversees Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, and the army’s General Headquarters. The airbase is home to C-130 transport aircraft and surveillance platforms.

India’s precision strikes on the base’s hangars, runways, and radar sites disrupted the operations of VIP transport fleets, drones, and surveillance aircraft, degrading 20% of Pakistan’s air force infrastructure, according to top intelligence sources quoted by News18.

The strikes, the sources added, exposed critical gaps in Pakistan’s air defences and highlighted its inability to intercept ballistic missiles targeting high-value sites deep inside the country.

The Pakistani military is yet to clear debris from the airport due to fear, resource shortages, or focus on other damaged bases, sources said. Satellite images showed a 7,000 sq ft complex demolished near the strike zone, disproving earlier claims of minimal damage. Mobile control centres and support vehicles were destroyed, crippling command operations. Crater impacts were also seen near fortified underground sites likely linked to sensitive or nuclear systems.