Pakistan's Persistent Provocations After Urging World To Ask India To Defuse Tensions
Saturday's Abdali missile test appears to be the latest provocation and a reckless attempt by Pakistan to goad India since the Pahalgam terror attack
Pakistan on Saturday test-fired the Abdali weapon system, a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 km, in an action that marks a dangerous escalation and a provocative step in its ongoing hostility towards India.
As tensions between the two countries flared following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged 'brotherly countries", including Saudi Arabia, to impress upon India the need to de-escalate and defuse hostilities. The United States and the European Union have also appealed to the nations to exercise restraint.
However, in this already volatile environment, the missile test appears to be a deliberate provocation and reckless attempt by Pakistan to goad India. Amid expectations of potential Indian military action following the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan's armed forces are conducting several exercises near the Line of Control and in the Arabian Sea.
Pakistan has closed several air traffic routes between Lahore and Islamabad and issued multiple navy area warnings along its coastline.
The Pakistani air force is holding three distinct exercises, the army is conducting Exercise Hammer Strike near the LoC, and the navy is engaged in a series of drills in the Arabian Sea.
The air force exercises conducted over the last few days include Zarb-e-haidari, Fiza e Badr, and Lalkar e Momin. These involved fighter jets like the F-16, J-10, and JF-17.
Army chief Asim Munir visited the Tilla Field Firing Ranges near Jhelum to witness exercises by the Mangla Strike Corps.
These exercises are taking place against a backdrop of heavy mobilisation of military equipment, including artillery, tanks, and other assets. Pakistan's recently acquired SH-15 155mm, 52-calibre self-propelled howitzer from China has also reportedly been deployed.
First Published:
May 03, 2025, 16:49 IST
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