New Delhi: Government sources said India will launch a weekend test in Pakistan for Abdari ground, with surface ballistic missiles being a “blatant provocative act” that heightened tensions in the April 22 terrorist attack on Pahargam.
Pakistan said Saturday's release – conducted under the Indus River practice, is a “training” footage designed to verify the advanced navigation and maneuverability of the missile. Abdali can carry conventional or nuclear warheads up to 450 kilometers. Islamabad did not inform New Delhi in advance, as required by the bilateral missile testing agreement.
New Delhi did not issue a formal statement, but officials described the timing as nuclear ransomware, aiming to divert so-called cross-border contact pressure to cross-border contacts with Pahargam attacks, which killed 26 civilians. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has granted “complete freedom of combat” to India's armed forces in response to the attack.
Security analysts point out that India's enhanced air defense shields, including the S-400 system, can deal with short-term threats. Additionally, the Army has made a request to propose procurement of very short-lived ranges, transplantable air defense missiles (VSHORADS), with a six-km engagement envelope for use by aircraft, helicopters and drones.
Indian officials reiterated that the “perpetrators, supporters and planners” of the Pahargam strike must be brought to justice, and said the latest missile launches will not prevent punitive actions against terrorist networks.
