Pakistan’s Fatah-1 Missile Claim Under Scrutiny After Mention of Non-Existent Indian Airbases

Pakistan’s claims regarding the successful targeting of Indian military sites during Operation Bunyan al-Marsous have come under sharp scrutiny after officials reportedly referred to two Indian “airbases” that do not appear to exist.

According to reports aired by Pakistan’s Geo News, members of the launch team behind the country’s Fatah-1 missile system claimed they had successfully struck two Indian military targets — “Rajouri Airbase” and “Mamoon Airbase” — during the operation.

During an interview broadcast in Pakistan, a member of the launch team, identified as Captain Muneeb Jamal, reportedly stated that the missiles accurately hit their assigned targets. “We were given two targets — Rajouri Airbase and Mamoon Airbase. We successfully engaged both,” he said.

However, the claim has sparked widespread debate, as no Indian Air Force airbases officially exist under those names. Rajouri is a district in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, where Army units are stationed, but it is not known to host an operational Indian Air Force base. Similarly, Mamoon, located near Pathankot in Punjab, is primarily known as an Army cantonment area rather than an airbase.

The discrepancy has raised questions among defence observers and social media users, with many suggesting either a case of mistaken identification or an exaggerated claim for domestic messaging.

Defence analysts note that India operates several established military airbases in northern regions, including those in Pathankot, Jammu, Srinagar and Udhampur. The absence of any officially recognised “Rajouri Airbase” or “Mamoon Airbase” has fueled skepticism over the missile strike claims.

Pakistan’s Fatah-1 is a guided surface-to-surface missile system developed in recent years. Islamabad has previously claimed the missile was used during military operations targeting Indian positions.

As of now, Indian authorities have not issued an official response to the specific claims. The episode has once again highlighted the role of information warfare and competing narratives during periods of military tension between the two countries.

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