RAHIM YAR KHAN: In a drone attack carried out by India on May 7, Rahim Yar Khan’s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Airport was targeted, damaging the runway and a lounge designated for the UAE royal family.
According to airport authorities, three drones were used in the attack – one struck the VIP lounge, another hit the car parking area, and the third landed directly on the runway. The strike created a 10 to 15-foot wide and deep crater on the runway, rendering the airport non-operational until 11:59pm on May 7 for repairs.
The Sheikh Zayed Airport, built in 1993 with funding from the United Arab Emirates, is named after the UAE’s founding president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The facility is used for non-military purposes and serves as a key arrival point for members of the UAE royal family who visit Rahim Yar Khan for vacations and hunting trips.
Officials stated that, fortunately, no casualties occurred as the airport was closed at the time of the attack. The terminal building and control tower remained unharmed.
This attack has targeted a non-military installation considered a symbol of friendship between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, prompting serious concern from security agencies and the Foreign Office.