Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to the Adampur air base has not just made a forceful nationalistic assertion, but by doing so, also unwittingly revealed the magnitude of destruction wrought by India on Pakistani air bases. On the day after Modi’s defiant appearance at an operational base with S-400 and MiG29 out in the open, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tried his dual attempt at visiting the Pasrur cantonment in Sialkot. But the difference between the two men’s appearances could not have been more stark.
While PM Modi arrived at Adampur in a Hercules plane, directly indicating the full operational capability of the air base, the arrival of Shehbaz Sharif was strangely sans aerial coverage. Sources mentioned that Sharif arrived only in a jeep, indicating that aerial arrival was not possible due to the possible damage to the runway. The visuals also showed a poorly constructed atmosphere with tanks and a flex sheet background, which appeared unrelated to any actual combat context.
Moreover, Sharif’s address lacked the gravitas or conviction of Modi’s. Standing atop a tank marked with a sign reading “The Prime Minister of Pakistan,” Sharif’s performance appeared more theatrical than strategic. In comparison, PM Modi stood beside battle-ready equipment, confidently asserting, “Humne unke ghar mein ghuske kuchal diya (We entered deep into their home and crushed them).”
Poor Copy by Sharif
This poor copy by Sharif merely served to enhance India’s narrative victory. Satellite photos reported by foreign media outlets including The Washington Post and The New York Times further supported destruction of several Pakistani airbases. Distinguished warfare experts like Tom Cooper and John Spencer further established the idea of India’s overwhelming dominance in the confrontation.
The optics from both sides also reflect a broader strategic divergence. India is not just winning the battle on the ground but also dominating the war of minds. Sharif’s absence of visual proximity to the alleged “undamaged” base was in itself a silent acknowledgment of damage.
While India stands firm through open military parades, Pakistan’s attempts at projecting resilience have, in a strange turn of events, highlighted its weaknesses. This incident exposed the weaknesses of Pakistan’s military PR and reinforced India’s status as the preeminent power in this regional conflict.
