We had only 30 seconds to decide: Pakistan PM’s adviser on BrahMos launch during Op Sindoor
During a recent television interview, Rana Sanaullah, a senior adviser to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, revealed that the country's military had merely 30 to 45 seconds to determine whether a BrahMos missile launched by India might be armed with a nuclear warhead. His remarks highlighted the grave danger of nuclear escalation during the India-Pakistan conflict that followed a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
Islamabad: A senior Pakistani leader has acknowledged that during heightened tensions with India, the country’s military had only a narrow window—just 30 to 45 seconds—to assess whether an incoming BrahMos missile could carry a nuclear payload. ana Sanaullah, an adviser to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, revealed this during an interview with a Pakistani news channel, as he spoke about the severe risks of nuclear escalation during the conflict sparked by a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
The recent conflict, triggered by the killing of 26 tourists in Pahalgam by terrorists linked to Pakistan, saw India launch ‘Operation Sindoor,’ a high-intensity military campaign targeting several Pakistani air bases.
Nuclear war scare
"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 said.
Located in Chaklala, Rawalpindi, Nur Khan is one of Pakistan Air Force’s key airbases.
"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.
Operation Sindoor
As part of Operation Sindoor, India reportedly struck several Pakistani military facilities, including bases in Sargodha, Nur Khan (Chaklala), Bholari, Jacobabad, Sukkur, and Rahim Yar Khan. Satellite imagery later confirmed widespread damage to runways, hangars, and other military infrastructure.
Notably, this wasn’t the first Indian strike on Nur Khan—back in the 1971 war, the Indian Air Force’s 20 Squadron had also bombed the airbase using Hawker Hunter aircraft.
In the latest operation, Indian forces demolished several training camps run by terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen, reportedly killing over 100 terrorists.
Following these strikes, Pakistan retaliated by launching missiles and drones at targets in western India. However, Indian defences successfully intercepted most of these attacks. In response, India launched further precision strikes deep into Pakistani territory, targeting key military assets.
The military escalation lasted four days, after which both nations agreed to a ceasefire to halt further cross-border hostilities.