News Brief
India's BrahMos Strike Sent Pakistan Into Panic Mode — Shehbaz Sharif's Adviser Claims 30-Second Window Sparked Nuclear War Fears
BrahMos-A cruise missile test-fired from Sukhoi 30 MKI (File Photo) (Representative Image)
A senior Pakistani politician has revealed that Pakistan’s armed forces had a mere 30 to 45 seconds to assess whether a BrahMos missile launched by India during Operation Sindoor could have a nuclear warhead.
Rana Sanaullah, adviser to Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stated that the danger of nuclear escalation loomed over the India-Pakistan conflict that erupted after 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam by Pakistan-backed terrorists.
"When India fired BrahMos at Nur Khan airbase, Pakistan's military had only 30-45 seconds to analyse whether the incoming missile may have a nuclear warhead. To decide anything on this in just 30 seconds was a dangerous situation," Sanaullah told a Pakistani news channel, NDTV reported.
Nur Khan, located in Chaklala near Rawalpindi, is one of the key airbases of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
"I am not saying that they did good by not using a nuclear warhead, but at the same time the people on this side could have misunderstood it also, leading to the launch of the first nuclear weapon that could spark a global nuclear war," he added.
However, these claims by Sanaullah appear exaggerated, as it is widely known that India follows a No First Use (NFU) nuclear doctrine.
Given India’s declared nuclear doctrine, it is highly likely that Pakistani military planners were aware that the BrahMos missiles used in the strike were not nuclear-armed.
Therefore, invoking the threat of nuclear war appears to be an exaggerated and far-fetched conclusion.
Despite the nuclear rhetoric by Pakistan, the conflict remained conventional, with India launching precise airstrikes on terrorist infra in Pakistan.
As part of Operation Sindoor, Indian forces eliminated over 100 terrorists and destroyed terror camps operated by Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Following India’s overnight strikes, Pakistan responded with drone and missile attacks aimed at India’s western regions.
Indian defence systems intercepted them, after which India retaliated by hitting strategic military targets inside Pakistan.
Indian armed forces struck several Pakistani airbases, damaging infrastructure such as runways, hangars, and facilities.
Satellite visuals confirmed heavy destruction at Sargodha, Nur Khan, Bholari, Jacobabad, Sukkur, and Rahim Yar Khan.
After four days of sustained cross-border missile and drone attacks, both nations agreed to an immediate ceasefire understanding, halting military engagements on all fronts.
