Taliban revives Pakistan's old fears: Why Afghan strike on Nur Khan base sent powerful message

Image shared on X by Afghanistan's defence ministry

• Afghanistan claims strikes on Pakistan's Nur Khan airbase
• Nur Khan airbase is key to Pakistan's nuclear command
• Strike seen as targeting Pakistan's sensitive strategic assets

Did our AI summary help?

The conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan took an escalatory turn earlier this week when Taliban announced it has targeted the strategic Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi in retaliation to air raids on Afghan territory.

The Afghanistani defence ministry said in a post on X that it conducted precise and coordinated aerial operations targeting key military installations in Pakistan, including the Nur Khan airbase, 12th division headquarters in Quetta, Balochistan, and Khwazai Camp in the Mohmand Agency of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Besides being a strategic military installation for Pakistan, Nur Khan is believed to be the site of the country's nuclear command and control infrastructure.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ فَمَنِ اعْتَدَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُوا عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ

Today, the Air Force of the Ministry of National Defense conducted precise and coordinated aerial operations against key military installations in Pakistan.. pic.twitter.com/i9ctZPxjgK — د ملي دفاع وزارت - وزارت دفاع ملی (@MoDAfghanistan2) March 1, 2026

The airbase in Chaklala surrounds the erstwhile Benazir Bhutto International Airport and handles both military operations and VIP transport missions. It houses multiple transport squadrons, aerial refueling units and PAF College Chaklala, a training ground for future air force leaders. It is also a central transport hub for Pakistan’s military and the home to the air refueling capability that powers Pakistani fighter jets.

Most importantly, the base is situated close to the headquarters of Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division, which oversees and secures the country’s nuclear arsenal. The warheads (nearly 170 as per estimates) are believed to be spread across various locations throughout the country.

Thus, a strike on Nur Khan would be seen as targeting one of Pakistan’s most sensitive strategic assets.

Last year, during Operation Sindoor, India had targeted the Nur Khan airbase in a decisive retaliatory strike during an intense four-day military confrontation.

While India targeted several other airbases across Pakistan, it was the attack on Nur Khan which was seen as a turning point in the escalation.

targeting the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, the 12th Division headquarters in Quetta (Balochistan), the Khwazai Camp in the Mohmand Agency of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as several other significant Pakistani military facilities and command centers... pic.twitter.com/z4pqDjh9qN — د ملي دفاع وزارت - وزارت دفاع ملی (@MoDAfghanistan2) March 1, 2026

According to reports, the Nur Khan base was struck by at least one Indian missile which destroyed a Pakistan Air Force command-and-control centre. Satellite images released later confirmed the damages.

A report in The New York Times last year said that India's missile attack on the Nur Khan base sparked worry in Pakistan since it signalled New Delhi had almost reached the heart of the country's key nuclear unit.

With Afghanistan targeting the same base, the intent is clearly to hit Pakistan where it hurts the most.