Pakistan initiates missile deterrent as tensions with India escalate
Officials have mentioned that the Abdali Weapon System, with a range of 450km, is designed to protect Islamabad “against any aggression.” The Pakistani military has successfully executed a test launch of the surface-to-surface missile known...
TroibNews 
Officials have mentioned that the Abdali Weapon System, with a range of 450km, is designed to protect Islamabad “against any aggression.”
The Pakistani military has successfully executed a test launch of the surface-to-surface missile known as the Abdali Weapon System, which boasts a reported range of 450km, as stated by defense officials. This test occurs amidst heightened tensions between Pakistan and its neighbor, regional rival India, following a deadly terrorist attack in India’s Jammu and Kashmir.
On Saturday, the Pakistani Armed Forces released a statement that indicated the launch earlier in the day “was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced maneuverability features.”
Islamabad's top military leaders observed the exercise, and both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed confidence that Pakistan’s Strategic Forces can provide “credible minimum deterrence and safeguard national security against any aggression.”
Hours prior to the test, Hindustan Times reported that Indian authorities viewed the scheduled Pakistani ballistic missile test as a “reckless act of provocation” and considered it a “dangerous escalation” of Islamabad's “hostile campaign” against New Delhi.
Relations between Islamabad and New Delhi have deteriorated significantly after terrorists fatally attacked 26 civilians in the Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist area, on April 22.
The Resistance Front, which is believed to be affiliated with the Pakistani-based organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility for the attack; however, subsequent reports indicated that the group had distanced itself from it. Indian police have identified three suspects, alleging that two of them are Pakistani nationals.
Following the attack, India accused Pakistan of supporting armed militants in their cross-border activities, a claim that Pakistan has strongly denied.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
The Pakistani military has successfully executed a test launch of the surface-to-surface missile known as the Abdali Weapon System, which boasts a reported range of 450km, as stated by defense officials. This test occurs amidst heightened tensions between Pakistan and its neighbor, regional rival India, following a deadly terrorist attack in India’s Jammu and Kashmir.
On Saturday, the Pakistani Armed Forces released a statement that indicated the launch earlier in the day “was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced maneuverability features.”
Islamabad's top military leaders observed the exercise, and both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed confidence that Pakistan’s Strategic Forces can provide “credible minimum deterrence and safeguard national security against any aggression.”
Hours prior to the test, Hindustan Times reported that Indian authorities viewed the scheduled Pakistani ballistic missile test as a “reckless act of provocation” and considered it a “dangerous escalation” of Islamabad's “hostile campaign” against New Delhi.
Relations between Islamabad and New Delhi have deteriorated significantly after terrorists fatally attacked 26 civilians in the Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist area, on April 22.
The Resistance Front, which is believed to be affiliated with the Pakistani-based organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility for the attack; however, subsequent reports indicated that the group had distanced itself from it. Indian police have identified three suspects, alleging that two of them are Pakistani nationals.
Following the attack, India accused Pakistan of supporting armed militants in their cross-border activities, a claim that Pakistan has strongly denied.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
