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Time of India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pakistan test-fires missile amid escalating tensions with India
This is a representational image ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's military conducted a successful test-launch of a Fatah series surface-to-surface missile with a range of 120 km as part of its ongoing 'Exercise INDUS', Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistan army's media arm, announced on Monday. This follows Saturday's test of the Abdali weapon system , a ballistic missile with a range of 450 km, signalling heightened military posturing amid fears of an Indian incursion. The tests, celebrated by President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Gen Syed Asim Munir, underscore Pakistan's resolve to bolster its defence capabilities in a volatile regional climate. According to ISPR, the goal of Monday's Fatah launch was to verify 'key technical parameters', such as improved precision and advanced navigation, and to guarantee 'operational readiness of troops'. Similar emphasis was placed on technical proficiency during Saturday's Abdali test, where military authorities praised the missile's improved navigation and manoeuvrability capabilities. Senior Army Strategic Forces Command leaders, scientists, and engineers watched both launches, which were presented as actions to preserve 'credible minimum deterrence' against external aggression. The exercise's symbolic name, 'INDUS', alludes to the Indus river system, a lifeline Pakistan fears India may threaten after New Delhi's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty . Tensions have soared since the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly civilians. India, alleging Pakistan's 'cross-border linkages' to the incident, has vowed severe retaliation. Pakistan's fears of a possible military attack have been heightened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to give India's armed forces 'complete operational freedom'. The Abdali test on Saturday was described by Indian authorities as a 'dangerous escalation' and a 'reckless act of provocation', with reports suggesting that New Delhi anticipated Pakistan's missile testing. In response, Pakistan has denied India's charges, demanded an impartial investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack , and threatened that any attempt to disrupt Indus water flow would be treated as an act of war.
Business Recorder
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Pakistan tests successful launch of Abdali Short Range Missile
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System, a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometres, as part of Exercise INDUS, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The launch aimed to validate key technical parameters, including the missile's advanced navigation system and improved manoeuvrability, while ensuring the operational readiness of the deployed troops. The training launch was witnessed by the Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, senior officials from the Strategic Plans Division and Army Strategic Forces Command, along with scientists and engineers from Pakistan's strategic institutions. President of Pakistan, Prime Minister, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and Services Chiefs congratulated all involved, lauding their technical expertise and operational excellence. They reiterated full confidence in the capabilities of Pakistan's Strategic Forces to maintain credible minimum deterrence and uphold national security in the face of any threat. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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.
India.com
03-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Pakistan takes shocking step, test-fires surface-to-surface missile named..., its range is...
New Delhi/Islamabad: Even as the heat is simmering between India and Pakistan over the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan on Saturday, 03 May 2025 announced that it has conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System. Abdali Weapon System is a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 km. '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 Army said in a statement adding that the missile launch was part of 'Exercise INDUS' without giving details about the exercise. The 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. (With PTI inputs)
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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.
