The United States intervened to de-escalate a dangerous standoff between India and Pakistan after an Indian missile strike on Pakistan’s Nur Khan Airbase raised fears of a potential nuclear confrontation, according to a report by The New York Times.
The situation unfolded rapidly following aerial engagements between the Indian and Pakistani air forces. Initially, U.S. Vice President JD Vance had downplayed the crisis in a May 8 interview with Fox News, describing it as “fundamentally none of our business.” However, the tone shifted quickly as U.S. intelligence flagged serious concerns about the potential for escalation.
Officials from the former Trump administration, speaking to CNN, revealed that high-level intelligence triggered urgent U.S. involvement. A small group of top officials — including Vice President Vance, Secretary of State and interim National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles — began closely tracking the situation.
The most alarming development came late on May 9, when missile strikes hit Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi. The base is a vital logistical center for the Pakistan Air Force and is located near the Strategic Plans Division, which oversees Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal of approximately 170 warheads.
A former U.S. official with knowledge of Pakistan’s nuclear command infrastructure told the Times that Islamabad has long feared a decapitation strike targeting its nuclear leadership. The strike on Nur Khan was reportedly perceived by Pakistani officials as a potential precursor to such an attack.
A senior Pakistani intelligence official, quoted by the Times, said that Rubio played a pivotal role in helping to broker a ceasefire. The Pakistani side considered the attack on Nur Khan a severe provocation, given its strategic location and proximity to the nuclear command structure.
“U.S. intervention was crucial in preventing the crisis from spiraling out of control,” the Pakistani official said. “The final step came from the president,” referring to then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
On May 10, President Trump announced that both India and Pakistan had agreed to an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, effectively pulling the region back from the edge of a broader conflict.
