• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Pakistan came dangerously close to misinterpreting India’s BrahMos missile strike as a nuclear attack, according to Rana Sanaullah, a senior leader of the ruling PML(N) party and advisor to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In a startling revelation during an interview with a local news channel, Sanaullah claimed that Pakistan’s military leadership had only 30 to 45 seconds to respond after the BrahMos missile hit the Nur Khan Airbase, raising fears of an unintended nuclear exchange between the two countries.

"When India fired the BrahMos and it struck our Nur Khan airbase, the Pakistani leadership had just 30-45 seconds to determine if the missile carried a nuclear warhead,” said Sanaullah. “Making such a decision in 30 seconds is extremely dangerous.” He warned that such a tight reaction window could have led to a catastrophic escalation, especially if the strike had been misinterpreted as a nuclear assault.

“I’m not saying they did good by not using a nuclear warhead, but at the same time, people on this side could have misunderstood it, leading to the launch of the first nuclear weapon,” he said. “You cannot imagine the destruction it could have caused.”

ALSO READ: India-US Interim Trade Deal Likely In 48 Hours: What Stands In The Way Of Crucial Pact | 5 Key Factors

Trump's Role In De-escalation

Sanaullah also credited US President Donald Trump with helping to de-escalate the situation, stating that “his role deserves independent recognition and appreciation.” He said the Pakistan government and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had praised Trump for preventing a potential global disaster. Sanaullah’s comments appear to acknowledge a behind-the-scenes diplomatic intervention by Washington at a critical juncture.

The situation unfolded following Operation Sindoor, a large-scale strike by India in retaliation for the killing of 26 Indian tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, by Pakistani terrorists. According to satellite imagery released by the Indian Armed Forces, the Nur Khan airbase sustained substantial damage, including to hangars, runways, and radar systems.

During the operation, Indian forces reportedly destroyed multiple terror group camps belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen, killing over 100 militants in deep Pakistani territory.

ALSO READ: Mark Zuckerberg's Oval Office Embarrassment: Meta CEO 'Asked To Leave' As He Entered Crucial Meeting; White House Responds

In retaliation, Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks targeting western India, which were intercepted by India’s air defence systems. India then conducted further precision strikes on selected military assets in Pakistan. The tensions culminated in a mutual ceasefire agreement, halting all military actions after four days of intense cross-border hostilities.