India slammed Pakistan’s missile test as provocative amid rising tensions after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack.
NEW DELHI: India has termed Pakistan’s test launch of a ballistic missile on Saturday as a “blatant act of provocation,” amid escalating tensions between the two countries following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Pakistani military said it carried out the launch of the Abdali surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which has a range of 450 km. It is understood that Islamabad provided prior notice to New Delhi about the missile test, as mandated under established agreements and protocols.
“The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability,” the Pakistan Army said in a statement.
The missile launch was reportedly part of “Exercise INDUS,” though no further details about the exercise were provided. However, sources described the missile test as a “desperate attempt to whip up tensions” and a calculated move to provoke India at a time of heightened security sensitivity. As of now, there has been no official reaction from the Indian government regarding the missile launch.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. Citing cross-border linkages to the attack, India has vowed severe punishment for those involved. Several global powers, including the United States and the European Union, have urged both nations to de-escalate tensions while unequivocally condemning the terrorist strike.
The same sources revealed that Pakistan has been frantically issuing naval warnings, intensifying naval drills in the Arabian Sea, and repeatedly violating the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir since the April 22 attack. India has firmly stated that the “perpetrators, backers, and planners” of the Pahalgam attack must be brought to justice. Following a high-level meeting with the top defence leadership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday declared that the armed forces have “complete operational freedom” to decide the mode, timing, and targets of India’s response, according to government sources.
The Prime Minister reiterated that delivering a crushing blow to terrorism is a national resolve, the sources added. On April 23, India announced a series of punitive measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the only operational land border crossing at Attari, and downgrading of diplomatic ties due to Pakistan’s alleged involvement in the Pahalgam attack. In response, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airliners and suspended all trade with India, including through third countries. India has since introduced fresh sanctions, including a complete ban on imports from Pakistan, citing national security and public policy. New Delhi has also suspended all postal services from Pakistan and banned Pakistani-flagged ships from docking at Indian ports.