Shehbaz Sharif Calls Meeting Of Body That Oversees Pakistan’s Nuclear Arsenal

In the wake of Pakistan’s launch of a military operation targeting multiple Indian bases.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened an emergency meeting of the National Command Authority (NCA), the military announced today. The NCA, comprising top civilian and military officials, is the highest decision-making body on national security matters, including those concerning Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

The emergency meeting comes amidst a significant escalation of tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Both nations have exchanged accusations of airspace violations, involving drone incursions and the use of other munitions. The military operation launched by Pakistan and the subsequent NCA meeting underscore the gravity of the current situation and the potential for further escalation in the region while the international community is closely monitoring the situation, with calls for restraint and dialogue from various countries.

A series of powerful explosions ripped through multiple Pakistani air force installations early Saturday, triggering an immediate nationwide airspace shutdown for all civilian and commercial flights. The Pakistani military confirmed that three of its air force bases were struck. These include the highly sensitive Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, a key military compound situated less than 10 kilometers from Islamabad and adjacent to the country’s military headquarters. The Nur Khan facility, formerly known as Chaklala Air Base, houses crucial air force operations as well as VIP transport units.

In addition to Nur Khan, the Pakistani military stated that the Murid air base located in Chakwal city and the Rafiqui air base in the Jhang district of Punjab province were also hit by the explosions.