Latest news with #AbdaliWeaponSystem
Kuwait Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Pakistan tests missile weapons system as tension mounts
India bans imports from Pakistan amid tension over tourist killings ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's military said it carried out a 'training launch' of a surface-to-surface missile weapons system on Saturday, further heightening tensions with India after last month's deadly attack in disputed Kashmir. New Delhi has blamed Islamabad for backing an attack on tourists last month in Indian-administered Kashmir, sparking a fresh stand-off between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Pakistan's military said Saturday it conducted a 'successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System', a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometers. '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,' Pakistan's military said in a statement. It did not say where the test took place. The missile training launch comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he has given his military 'full operational freedom' to respond to the attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists. Pakistan has denied any involvement in the attack and called for an independent probe. This week Islamabad warned of an imminent air strike from its neighbor, and has repeatedly made clear it will respond with force to any aggression by India. International pressure has been piled on both New Delhi and Islamabad—who have fought several wars over the disputed Kashmir region—to de-escalate. Neighboring China has urged 'restraint', with the European Union warning Friday that the situation was 'alarming'. In an interview with Fox News, US Vice President JD Vance called on India to respond to the attack in a way 'that doesn't lead to a broader regional conflict'. He also urged Pakistan to 'make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with'. 'Message to the world' Analysts in Pakistan 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. On Friday, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir presided over a meeting of his top commanders about the 'current Pakistan-India standoff', a military statement said. Munir 'underscored the critical importance of heightened vigilance and proactive readiness across all fronts'. Since the attack—the deadliest in Kashmir on civilians in years—India and Pakistan have exchanged tit-for-tat diplomatic barbs and expulsions, and shut border crossings. The two sides have exchanged gunfire for nine consecutive nights along the militarized Line of Control, the de facto border, according to Indian defense sources. Muslim-majority Kashmir, a region of around 15 million people, is divided but claimed in full between Pakistan and India. Rebels on the Indian side have waged an insurgency since 1989, seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan. India regularly blames its neighbor for backing gunmen behind the insurgency. Islamabad denies the allegation, saying it only supports Kashmir's struggle for self-determination and regularly denounces rights abuses in the region. India bans imports Meanwhile, India said on Saturday it had banned the import of goods coming from or transiting via Pakistan and barred Pakistani ships as tensions rise between the nuclear-armed neighbors in the wake of a deadly attack on tourists in the disputed Kashmir region. India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a notification that the ban would take effect immediately. 'This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy,' it said. Suspected militants killed at least 26 people in last week's attack on a mountain tourist destination in the Pahalgam area of the Kashmir valley. The Muslim-majority Himalayan region is claimed by both India and Pakistan, and has been the focus of several wars, an insurgency and diplomatic standoffs. India has accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, which Islamabad denies. Pakistan has said it has 'credible intelligence' that India intends to launch military action. Pakistan's retaliatory measures have included halting all border trade, closing its airspace to Indian carriers and expelling Indian diplomats. It has also warned that any attempt to prevent the flow of river water promised under a decades-old treaty would be considered an act of war. On Saturday, India said Pakistani-flagged ships would not be allowed to visit any Indian port, and Indian flagged-ships would not visit any ports in Pakistan. 'This order is issued to ensure safety of Indian assets, cargo and connected infrastructure, in public interest and for interest of Indian shipping,' the Directorate General of Shipping said in a statement. Trade between the two nations has dwindled over the last few years. — AFP
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
06-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Pakistan to raise defence budget by 18% amid tensions with India: Report
Pakistan coalition government has endorsed an 18 per cent increase in defence spending to over Rs 2.5 trillion in the next budget due to tensions with India, according to a media report on Tuesday. The government is set to unveil the 2025-26 budget in the first week of the next month ahead of the start of the new fiscal year from July 1. India and Pakistan have witnessed heightened tensions since the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people. The Express Tribune reported that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) delegation, led by its chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his economic team to discuss the budget matters on Monday. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government shared roughly Rs 17.5 trillion worth of new budget framework with its key ally, the PPP, which agreed to 18 per cent increase in the defence outlay. There was a consensus between the PML-N and the PPP to increase the defence budget due to the recent wave of tensions with India, the newspaper said, quoting sources. They said that the PPP backed the proposal to increase the defence budget by 18 per cent to over Rs 2.5 trillion in the light of the prevailing security threats. In the current fiscal 2024-25, the government allocated Rs 2,122 billion for defence spending, reflecting a 14.98 per cent increase over Rs 1,804 billion budgeted for the outgoing fiscal year 2023-24. The defence sector expenses are the second biggest component of the annual expenditure after the debt payments. In the current year, Rs 9,700 billion allocated for debt servicing constitutes the single biggest expense of the country. The size of the budget is lower than Rs 18 trillion, which is less than this year's budget due to steep reduction in the interest expense on the back of an 11 per cent cut in policy rate by the central bank, the newspaper added. India on April 23 announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of the only operational land border crossing at Attari and downgrading of diplomatic ties in view of cross-border links to the attack. In response, Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian airliners and suspended all trade with India, including through third countries. Pakistan on Monday conducted a successful training launch of the 'Fatah series' surface-to-surface missile with a range of 120 kilometres while on Saturday, it conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 km.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Pakistan to increase defence spending by 18 pc in budget: Report
Live Events Pakistan coalition government has endorsed an 18 per cent increase in defence spending to over Rs 2.5 trillion in the next budget due to tensions with India, according to a media report on Tuesday. The government is set to unveil the 2025-26 budget in the first week of the next month ahead of the start of the new fiscal year from July and Pakistan have witnessed heightened tensions since the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 Express Tribune reported that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) delegation, led by its chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his economic team to discuss the budget matters on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government shared roughly Rs 17.5 trillion worth of new budget framework with its key ally, the PPP, which agreed to 18 per cent increase in the defence was a consensus between the PML-N and the PPP to increase the defence budget due to the recent wave of tensions with India, the newspaper said, quoting said that the PPP backed the proposal to increase the defence budget by 18 per cent to over Rs 2.5 trillion in the light of the prevailing security the current fiscal 2024-25, the government allocated Rs 2,122 billion for defence spending, reflecting a 14.98 per cent increase over Rs 1,804 billion budgeted for the outgoing fiscal year defence sector expenses are the second biggest component of the annual expenditure after the debt payments. In the current year, Rs 9,700 billion allocated for debt servicing constitutes the single biggest expense of the country."The size of the budget is lower than Rs 18 trillion, which is less than this year's budget due to steep reduction in the interest expense on the back of an 11 per cent cut in policy rate by the central bank," the newspaper on April 23 announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty , shutting down of the only operational land border crossing at Attari and downgrading of diplomatic ties in view of cross-border links to the response, Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian airliners and suspended all trade with India, including through third on Monday conducted a successful training launch of the 'Fatah series' surface-to-surface missile with a range of 120 kilometres while on Saturday, it conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System - a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 km.
Express Tribune
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistan tests missile that can evade anti-ballistic missile systems
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 Pakistan on Monday successfully conducted a training launch of a Fatah Series surface-to-surface missile with a range of 120 kilometres, as part of the ongoing "Ex-INDUS" military exercise. The launch aimed to ensure the operational readiness of troops and validate key technical parameters, including the missile's advanced navigation system and enhanced accuracy, according to a news release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The guidance system makes the rocket a precision weapon, enhancing its lethality and efficacy, while the trajectory mode and terminal guidance technology enable it to evade the enemy's anti-ballistic missile systems. The training launch was witnessed by senior officers of the Pakistan Army, as well as scientists and engineers from Pakistan's strategic organisations. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir congratulated the participating troops, scientists and engineers. They expressed complete confidence in the operational preparedness and technical proficiency of the Pakistan Army to thwart any aggression against the territorial integrity of Pakistan, according to the ISPR. President Asif Ali Zardari also felicitated the nation on the successful training launch of the Fatah Series missile, his office said in a statement on Monday. The president appreciated the efforts by the security forces, scientists, and engineers to strengthen national defence, reiterating the nation's resolve to ensure national defence and security. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded Gen Mirza and Gen Munir, the scientists and engineers who took part in the successful training launch of the missile.
Economic Times
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Pakistan fires second missile in two days amid India-Pak tensions after Kashmir terrorist attack
Amid escalating tensions with India following the Kashmir attack on April 22, Pakistan's military conducted its second missile test in two days, as reported by AFP. The recent launch aimed to ensure troop readiness and validate the missile's navigation system and accuracy. This surface-to-surface missile possesses a range of 120 kilometers. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pakistan's military said on Monday that it has carried out another missile test, its second in two days, following a sharp rise in tensions with India following the fatal terrorist attack in Kashmir on April 22 that India has linked to Islamabad."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 accuracy," the military said in a statement, AFP reported. The military said the surface-to-surface missile had a range of 120 kilometres (75 miles).After second missile test, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said defence is 'in strong hands' Pakistan's military had on May 3 said it had carried out a training launch of a surface-to-surface missile. The military said the Abdali Weapon System — a missile with a range of 450 kilometres — was successfully sees Pakistan's launch of a ballistic missile on May 3 as a 'blatant' act of 'provocation', PTI had reported citing people familiar with the India has also been testing its defence newest indigenous warship, INS Surat, successfully intercepted a fast, low-flying target using a Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) system in the Arabian Sea in April. India has also brought its Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) fleet back into action after grounding it in January to check for possible technical faults. The move comes as tensions rise along the border, with large-scale military activity seen across the Line of Control (LoC).Several major world powers, including the United States and the European Union, have urged both India and Pakistan to ease tensions, while strongly condemning the terrorist and Pakistan have both made major upgrades to their military power since their last clash in 2019, increasing the chances of escalation even if a conflict starts off on a small scale, former army officers and defence experts told say neither country is likely to use nuclear weapons unless they are pushed to the extreme. However, even a limited military exchange carries serious risks of things getting out of two neighbours have fought three wars — in 1948, 1965 and 1971 — and have had many smaller clashes since independence, mostly over Kashmir. Both countries became nuclear powers in the 1990s, and Kashmir remains one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the world.
