PAF Base Mushaf
| Other Name: | PAF Base Sargodha |
|---|---|
| Location: | Sargodha, Punjab (172km NW Lahore) |
| Subordinate To: | Pakistan Air Force, Ministry of Defense |
| Size: | Two runways, aircraft dispersal area, and weapons storage area [1] |
| Facility Status: | Active [2] |
PAF Base Mushaf, formerly known as PAF Base Sargodha, is the headquarters of the Central Air Command of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The Federation of American Scientists believes that the F-16s would be logical options for delivering nuclear weapons. [3] The Natural Resources Defense Council also believes that components or partially assembled air-deliverable nuclear devices might be stored at an ammunition depot at the Sargodha air base. [4]
Pakistan's nuclear-capable, short-range, solid-fueled Hatf-3/Ghaznavi/M-11 (total number estimated at 34-80) ballistic missiles are also believed to be stored at facilities near the Central Ammunition Depot at Sargodha. [5] The evidence captured on U.S. satellite imagery includes missile crates, storage sheds for transporter-erector launch vehicles, missile maintenance facilities, and housing. [6] The Pakistani military has also been sighted conducting simulated launches with assistance from visiting Chinese experts. [7] Indian intelligence sources believe that in an attack scenario, the missiles would be dispersed and re-deployed at Gujranwala, Okara, Multan, Jhang, and Dera Nawab Shah, where defense communication terminals have been constructed.
Sources: [1] Estimate based on IKONOS satellite imagery: Space Imaging, Sargodha-ab-ik-br, accessed 8 February 2011, www.globalsecurity.org.
[2] “PAF Active Bases,” PAF Official Website, accessed 28 January 2011, www.paf.org.pk.
[3] "Sargodha Air Base: Central Ammunition Depot-Pakistan Special Weapons Facilities," Federation of American Scientists, 28 January 2011, www.fas.org.
[4] “NRDC: Nuclear Data, Table of Pakistani Nuclear Forces, 2002,” Natural Resources Defense Council, Accessed 3 February 2011, updated 25 November 2002, www.nrdc.org.
[5] Dinshaw Mistry, Containing Missile Proliferation: Strategic Technology, Security Regimes, and International Cooperation in Arms Control (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2003), p. 119.
[6] “Sargodha – Pakistan Special Weapons Facilities,” Globalsecurity.org, accessed 28 January 2011, www.globalsecurity.org.
[7] “Sargodha – Pakistan Special Weapons Facilities,” Globalsecurity.org, accessed 28 January 2011, www.globalsecurity.org.
This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, or agents. Copyright © 2011 by MIIS.
Country Profile
Pakistan
This article provides an overview of Pakistan’s historical and current policies relating to nuclear, chemical, biological and missile proliferation.

