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Express Tribune
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistan tests new missile in a 'warning shot' to India
Pakistan successfully conducts training launch of the Abdali Weapon System, a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450kms as part of Ex INDUS. PHOTO: PPI Listen to article Pakistan has conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System - a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometres as part of Ex INDUS, the Inter-Services Public Relations said on Saturday. "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 manoeuverability features," the military's media affairs wing noted in a statement. It stated that the training launch was witnessed by the commander Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC), senior officials from the Strategic Plans Division and the ASFC, as well as scientists and engineers from Pakistan's strategic organisations. Analysts told AFP the missile launch was a warning shot. "It clearly indicates that we have resources to counter India. This is not a message only for India but the rest of the world that we are well-prepared," said Hasan Askari Rizvi, a military analyst. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and the services chiefs extended their congratulations to the participating troops, scientists, and engineers, the military's media affairs wing said. "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," the statement added.
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Screws tighten on Pakistan: Curb on water flow through Baglihar; crackdown on ships, trade
JUST over 10 days after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, India has ratcheted up its diplomatic offensive with a second set of measures against Pakistan: curbing water flow through the Baglihar dam; stopping the import of products; banning docking of Pakistan-owned ships and suspending the exchange of all mail and parcels. This, even as it flagged its condemnation over the test-firing Saturday of a surface-to-surface ballistic missile by Pakistan. The testing wasn't lost on India. Turning the heat on Islamabad, the government put into effect a crucial next step as part of putting the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance. The gates of the sluice spillways on the Baglihar dam have been lowered to restrict water flow to Pakistan's Punjab as a 'short-term punitive action,' a senior official told The Indian Express. The Baglihar dam, over Chenab river, is designed as a run-of-the-river plant for hydro power generation. Chenab is one of the western rivers in the Indus Water system and the treaty allows for harnessing its waters for power generation. 'By doing this, even if the choke is for a short while, we demonstrate that we will take coercive steps… The Chenab river water irrigates Punjab farmlands, and Pakistan needs to realise we mean to punish them on all fronts,' the official said. This may not be done in isolation – similar action in the Kishanganga dam on the Jhelum river may also be in the offing, he said. Pakistan tested its surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a 450-km range on Saturday. The missile, known as the Abdali Weapon System, was tested as part of its military drill 'Exercise Indus.' The test, conducted at the Sonmiani Ranges, was likely part of an operational user trial conducted under the Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC), which handles Pakistan's nuclear-capable missiles. An official in Delhi called it a 'reckless act of provocation and a dangerous escalation by Pakistan in its hostile campaign against India.' Sources said that since the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan has been 'frantically issuing naval warnings, ramping up drills in the Arabian Sea, and has indulged in continuous ceasefire violations along the LoC'. 'This planned missile test, under such volatile conditions, is nothing short of a blatant provocation and a desperate attempt to whip up tensions with India,' the official said. Unveiling its second set of measures, India Saturday also suspended exchange of all categories of mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes. The order suspending the services was issued by the Department of Posts that operates under the Ministry of Communication. India's next move, hours later, was to ban the docking of ships bearing the flag of Pakistan at ports in the country. It also said that no Indian-flagged vessel would visit any ports in Pakistan. The first set of measures had targeted the Indus Water Treaty, scrapped all visas, sent back all Pak nationals (except for the long-term visas), reduced the strength of the Pakistan High Commission by almost half, closed the Attari border, and sent back defence officials in the Pak mission. India had also banned some YouTube channels of Pakistan TV and journalists. India and Pakistan have also shut their respective airspaces to each other's airlines and suspended all trade with India, including through third countries this week. Citing 'cross-border linkages' to the April 22 attack, India has promised severe punishment to those involved in the strike. In a high-level meeting with the top defence brass, Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week had 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.
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First Post
03-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Pakistan says tested ballistic missile under 'Operation INDUS' amid tension with India
In yet another provocative move, Pakistan on Saturday confirmed the testing of a ballistic missile and claimed that the launch was part of Exercise INDUS read more Amid the brewing tensions between India and Pakistan following the devastating Pahalgam terror attack, Islamabad has claimed that it has successfully tested a surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which has the potential to hit targets that are at 450 km. Pakistan confirmed the testing of the missile on Saturday and claimed that the launch was part of Exercise INDUS. Tensions between India and Pakistan reached their peak after terrorists with links to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terror group, infiltrated a tourist destination in Pahalgam, Kashmir and killed 26 people. The incident sent shockwaves across India, with New Delhi ramping up its security measures against Pakistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The recent launch marks a provocative act from Islamabad that also introduced several other moves, calling them a 'tit-for-tat' for India's action. '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,' the Pakistani government said in a statement regarding the missile launch. Pak PM boasts about military might Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other military chiefs boasted about their 'complete confidence in the operational readiness and technical proficiency of the forces to safeguard the country's national security,' the statement reads. It is pertinent to note that Pakistan has been regularly violating the Line of Control (LoC), the ceasefire, to provoke India. Besides this, in the past few weeks, several Pakistani leaders have made several provocative statements and indulged in warmongering. Pakistan's Information Minister Ataullah Tara had claimed India was planning an attack on the country within 36 hours. However, it has been over 72 hours since he made the claim. In the statement, the Pakistan government noted that it tested the Abdali Weapon System. The test was conducted at the Sonmiani Ranges and was likely to be part of an operational user trial conducted under the Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC), which is responsible for handling Pakistan's nuclear-capable missiles. According to the ISPR statement on the matter, the launch was administered by the 'President, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, 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,' the statement concluded. India is yet to respond to the launch.
India Today
03-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Pak claims it tested ballistic missile with 450 km range amid tension with India
Escalating tensions with India, Pakistan has successfully tested a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a 450-km range on Saturday. The missile, known as the Abdali Weapon System, was tested as part of its military drill 'Exercise INDUS'.The test, conducted at the Sonmiani Ranges, was likely part of an operational user trial conducted under the Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC), which handles Pakistan's nuclear-capable missiles. advertisementThe launch was witnessed by the Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, Lt. General Muhammad Shahbaz Khan, and Major General Sheharyar Pervez Butt, DG PDS at Strategic Plans Division. In a statement, the Pakistani army said the launch was "aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops" to ensure credible minimum deterrence and safeguard national security against any PAKISTAN RAMPS UP DRILLSGovernment sources had previously told ANI that India was anticipating a ballistic missile test by Pakistan. Sources said such a move would be perceived as a "reckless act of provocation and a dangerous escalation".Following India's series of diplomatic missiles and punitive actions after the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan has been consistently issuing NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) threatening missile test launches in the region. However, it had not tested any missiles until military retaliation by India, a rattled Pakistan has also ramped up naval exercises in the Arabian Sea and resorted to ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) and as well as along the International the Pakistan Air Force is carrying out three exercises at the same time that include all the major fighter aircraft fleets, including the F-16, J-10 and JF-17. It has also deployed air defence and artillery units to forward locations along the radar systems have also been installed near the Longewala sector in Rajasthan's SHOWS MILITARY MIGHTPakistan has been on high alert ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted the Indian military "complete operational freedom" to respond to the terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 people has, however, not wasted any time in showing its military might. Last week, India's frontline fighter jets, including Rafales, and its top pilots took part in a large-scale military exercise, named Aakraman (attack), and the Navy demonstrated its operational Friday, in a groundbreaking military manoeuvre, IAF jets successfully executed a "land and go" operation on a section of the Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Watch
