Islamabad, May 3: Pakistan on Saturday conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali weapon system — a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kms – amid heightened tensions with India following the Pahalgam terror attack.
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 features,” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the army, said in a statement.
The army said the missile launch was part of “Exercise INDUS” but gave no details about it.
Pakistan’s missile test-firing comes about 10 days after terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22.
Initially, Indian authorities identified five terrorists — including three Pakistani nationals — behind the massacre in Pahalgam. Citing “cross-border linkages” to the horrific attack, India has promised severe punishment to those involved in the strike and took a raft of punitive measures.
Saturday’s training launch was witnessed by the Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, senior officials from the Strategic Plans Division, Army Strategic Forces Command, as well as scientists and engineers from Pakistan’s strategic organisations.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and services chiefs extended their congratulations to the participating troops, scientists, and engineers.
They expressed complete confidence in the operational preparedness and technical proficiency of Pakistan’s Strategic Forces to ensure credible minimum deterrence and safeguard national security against any aggression.
People familiar with the matter in New Delhi said India considers Pakistan’s test launch of the ballistic missile as a “blatant” act of “provocation”.
It is a “desperate attempt” to whip up “tensions” with India, they said.
However, there was no official reaction by India on the Pakistani missile test.
It is learnt that Islamabad provided prior information to New Delhi about its plan to carry out the missile test as mandated under laid down obligations and norms.
Earlier on April 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to punish the terrorists behind the Pahalgam terror attack and those part of the conspiracy beyond their imagination, asserting that the country’s enemies targeted not merely unarmed tourists but dared to attack India’s soul.
In a high-level meeting with the top defence brass on April 29, Modi asserted that the armed forces have “complete operational freedom” to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India’s response to the terror attack, according to government sources. (PTI)
