Pakistan demolishes damaged Murid air base building after Indian strike

Islamabad: Pakistan has reportedly demolished a major building at the Murid Air Base that was severely damaged during India’s military action under Operation Sindoor. The facility, believed to be an important command and control centre, had suffered heavy damage during the strike and attempts to repair it were ultimately unsuccessful, forcing Pakistani authorities to completely clear the structure.

According to reports, the Murid Air Base located near Chakwal in Pakistan had been one of the targets of the Indian air operation. The strike had caused extensive structural damage to the building, which was believed to function as a key command and control node of the Pakistan Air Force. Following the attack, the damaged structure was reportedly covered with large tarpaulins as authorities attempted to assess and repair the facility.

However, nearly ten months after the strike, efforts to restore the building appear to have failed. Satellite imagery captured on February 28 reportedly shows that the entire structure has now been demolished and cleared. Pakistani military authorities are believed to have decided to remove the building completely and possibly construct a new facility at the site.

Satellite imagery analyst Damien Symon stated that the latest images confirm that the structure has been fully demolished. According to him, the level of damage caused by the missile strike appears to have penetrated deep into the building’s structure, leading to severe internal damage.

Experts examining the satellite images suggest that the airstrike likely caused major structural failures inside the building, making it unsafe and impractical to repair. As a result, demolition became the only viable option.

The Murid Air Base was reportedly used by the Pakistan military as a command and control centre for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The facility was believed to coordinate drone operations and aerial surveillance activities.

Reports indicate that the Indian Air Force carried out strikes on multiple Pakistani air bases during Operation Sindoor. The Murid base was among the ten air bases targeted during the early hours between 2 am and 5 am on May 10, 2025, just hours before both countries moved towards a ceasefire agreement.

During the operation, Indian forces are believed to have targeted what was suspected to be an underground facility at the base. The intensity of the strike appears to have caused deep structural damage that could not be repaired even after months of efforts.

The demolition of the building now highlights the extent of the damage inflicted during the strike and suggests that Pakistan may need to rebuild critical infrastructure at the base from scratch. The development has drawn attention from defence analysts, who say satellite imagery continues to reveal important details about the aftermath of the military operation.