Pakistani security expert Imtiaz Gul has triggered a major controversy with his claim that the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi is effectively under American control.
In a widely circulated video, Gul alleges that even senior Pakistan Army officers are not permitted to interfere in the operations of this strategically vital airbase, suggesting the existence of deep-rooted and undisclosed operational agreements between the United States and Pakistan.
Gul’s assertion is particularly significant given the airbase’s location—just 10 kilometers from Islamabad and adjacent to Rawalpindi, the headquarters of the Pakistan Army. The base is also close to the Strategic Plans Division, which oversees Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, further amplifying concerns about national sovereignty and security.
The Nur Khan airbase houses Pakistan’s main air transport squadrons, including C-130 Hercules and IL-78 mid-air refuelers, and serves as the command centre for air mobility operations. It also accommodates key training institutions such as PAF College Chaklala and Fazaia Inter College Nur Khan.
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Flight tracking data and exclusive satellite imagery reviewed by India Today’s Open-Source Investigation (OSINT) team suggest that a VVIP aircraft matching the description used by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was present at the Nur Khan airbase around the time of the Indian Air Force (IAF) strikes on May 10, highlighting the strategic sensitivity and vulnerability of the country’s most important airbase, India Today had reported.
According to Gul, American aircraft are frequently seen at the base, but there is little transparency regarding their operations or cargo. He suggests that the arrangement between the US and Pakistan is based on undisclosed agreements, raising serious questions about the extent of US military access and the transparency of Pakistan’s military operations.
Gul’s claims have fuelled speculation about secretive joint operations or special access rights granted to the US, which, if true, would represent a significant compromise of Pakistan’s sovereignty.
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