Pakistan Test-Fires Ballistic Missile With 450 km Range; New Delhi Terms It ‘Reckless Act Of Provocation’: Report

<p>Amid heightened tensions with India following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan on Saturday announced that it had conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System &mdash; a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometres.</p>
<p>According to a statement issued by the Pakistan Army, the launch was carried out to ensure the operational readiness of troops and validate key technical parameters, including the missile&rsquo;s advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability. The test was conducted as part of &ldquo;Exercise INDUS&rdquo;, although no further details about the exercise were provided, news agency PTI reported.</p>
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-media-max-width=”560″>
<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Pakistan</a> today conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System&mdash;a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometers&mdash;as part of the military exercise Ex INDUS. <a href=”https://t.co/Kqt3gZeLa2″>pic.twitter.com/Kqt3gZeLa2</a></p>
&mdash; Global Defense Insight (@Defense_Talks) <a href=”https://twitter.com/Defense_Talks/status/1918571751694315618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>May 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<p>The training launch was witnessed by the Commander of the Army Strategic Forces Command, senior officials from the Strategic Plans Division and Army Strategic Forces Command, as well as scientists and engineers from Pakistan&rsquo;s strategic organisations.</p>
<p>Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the services chiefs congratulated the participating troops, scientists, and engineers. They expressed full confidence in the operational preparedness and technical proficiency of Pakistan&rsquo;s Strategic Forces to ensure credible minimum deterrence and safeguard national security against any aggression.</p>
<h3><strong>New Delhi Views Pakistan&rsquo;s Ballistic Missile Test-Firing As ‘Reckless Act Of Provocation'</strong></h3>
<p>According to PTI, sources familiar with developments in New Delhi said India views Pakistan&rsquo;s preparations to test fire ballistic missiles amid ongoing tensions as a &ldquo;reckless act of provocation&rdquo; and a &ldquo;dangerous escalation&rdquo; of the situation. &ldquo;The planned missile test by Pakistan under such volatile conditions is nothing short of a blatant provocation and a desperate attempt to whip up tensions with India,&rdquo; one of the persons cited said.</p>
<p>Tensions have been running high between the two neighbours since the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed the lives of 26 civilians. India has alleged cross-border linkages to the strike and vowed severe punishment for those responsible. Several global powers, including the United States and the European Union, have condemned the attack and urged both nations to de-escalate.</p>
<p>One of the sources revealed to PTI that Pakistan has been preparing to test fire additional surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and has been issuing frequent naval warnings. Pakistan has also reportedly intensified naval drills in the Arabian Sea and has continued ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir since the Pahalgam attack.</p>
<p>Following a high-level review meeting on national security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly told the top defence leadership that the armed forces had &ldquo;complete operational freedom&rdquo; to determine the mode, targets, and timing of India&rsquo;s response. Government sources told PTI that the prime minister underscored the national resolve to deal a decisive blow to terrorism.</p>
<p>On April 23, India announced several punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the Attari land border crossing, and downgrading of diplomatic relations. In retaliation, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian aircraft and suspended all trade, including through third-party countries.</p>
<p>Pakistan has rejected India&rsquo;s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, warning that any move to halt the flow of water would be considered an act of war.</p>
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