In a significant development early Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a surprise visit to the Adampur Air Force Station near Jalandhar, Punjab. This visit comes just a day after his national address following the successful Operation Sindoor, which marked a decisive shift in India’s approach to counter-terrorism and relations with Pakistan.
The Prime Minister landed at Adampur airport at around 6:15 am and spent nearly an hour at the airbase. During his visit, he interacted with Indian Air Force personnel and senior officers, gathering first-hand feedback about the recent operations and the prevailing security situation. He was accompanied by Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, and the visit was kept highly confidential, with even local administration unaware of the Prime Minister’s movements until after his arrival.
Adampur Airbase, India’s second-largest, played a crucial role in ensuring air defence during the recent conflict with Pakistan. It was one of the key bases targeted by Pakistan on the night of May 9-10, following India’s precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor. Despite Pakistan’s claims that its hypersonic missiles had destroyed the S-400 air defence system at Adampur, the Prime Minister’s visit, with images of an intact S-400 and MiG-29 fighter jets in the background, firmly debunked these allegations.
The Prime Minister described his interaction with the air warriors as a “very special experience”, stating, “India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation”. His presence at the airbase was seen as a massive morale booster for the personnel, many of whom had played a direct role in repelling Pakistani drone and missile attacks in recent days.
Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which claimed 26 lives. Under this operation, Indian forces struck nine terror camps deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, reportedly killing around 100 terrorists. The operation marked a new doctrine in India’s counter-terrorism policy, with the Prime Minister making it clear that India would not tolerate nuclear blackmail and would respond decisively to any future threats.
Pakistan’s Claims
Pakistan, in the aftermath of the Indian strikes, attempted to launch a disinformation campaign, releasing fake images and videos claiming severe damage to the Adampur base and its S-400 system. However, open-source intelligence and satellite imagery reviewed by Indian agencies showed no visible damage to the base’s runway, buildings, or aircraft hangars. The Prime Minister’s visit, and the images shared from the site, served as a direct rebuttal to these false claims.
During his address to the nation, Prime Minister Modi praised the Indian armed forces for their courage and determination, highlighting that Operation Sindoor had set a “new normal” in India’s fight against terrorism. He warned Pakistan that India’s operations had only been paused, not ended, and that future actions would depend on Pakistan’s conduct.
The visit to Adampur Airbase not only reinforced the government’s support for the armed forces but also sent a clear message to adversaries and the international community about India’s resolve and preparedness. As chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram” echoed through the airbase, the Prime Minister’s presence stood as a symbol of national unity and unwavering commitment to the country’s security.
