Pakistan has successfully test-launched a surface-to-surface missile, known as the Abdali Weapon System, with a range of 450 kilometers (280 miles). This move comes at a time when tensions with neighboring India are running high, following a deadly terrorist attack in India’s Jammu and Kashmir region. The Pakistani military conducted the test to ensure the operational readiness of its troops and to validate key technical parameters of the missile.
According to a statement by the Pakistani Armed Forces, the launch was aimed at checking the advanced navigation system and enhanced maneuverability features of the missile. The country’s top military officials, as well as President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, observed the exercise and expressed confidence in Pakistan’s Strategic Forces. They believe these forces can provide “credible minimum deterrence” and safeguard national security against any aggression.
However, the planned test was perceived differently by Indian authorities. The Hindustan Times reported that India saw the test as a “reckless act of provocation” and a “dangerous escalation” of Pakistan’s “hostile campaign” against New Delhi. This reaction highlights the strained relations between the two countries, which have been exacerbated by recent events.
Tensions between Pakistan and India escalated after a terrorist attack in the Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist destination, on April 22, which left 26 civilians dead. The Resistance Front, a group believed to be linked to the Pakistani-based organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility for the attack but later distanced itself from it. Indian police identified three suspects, two of whom are reportedly Pakistani nationals.
In the wake of the attack, India accused Pakistan of supporting armed militants in cross-border incursions, a claim that Pakistan has strongly denied. The situation has led to increased tensions between the two nations, with India blocking high-level Pakistani social media accounts amid the standoff. The test launch of the Abdali Weapon System is seen as a demonstration of Pakistan’s military capabilities and its commitment to defending its national security against any potential threats.
