Pakistan successfully test-fired its Abdali Weapon System, a surface-to-surface missile with a 450-km range, on Saturday, escalating tensions with India following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.

The launch, part of “Exercise INDUS,” aimed to ensure troop readiness and validate advanced navigation and maneuverability features, according to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The test, witnessed by the Commander of the Army Strategic Forces Command, Strategic Plans Division officials, and scientists, drew praise from President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and service chiefs, who lauded Pakistan’s “credible minimum deterrence” against aggression.

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Indian officials labeled the move a “reckless provocation,” noting it as the fourth NOTAM issued since April 23, though prior notices from April 26-27 and April 30-May 2 saw no launches.

Tensions have surged with nightly LoC firefights since the attack, prompting India to ban Pakistani imports and ships. Pakistan denies involvement in the attack, claimed by The Resistance Front, and calls for a neutral probe. The test signals Pakistan’s military posturing as both nations brace for further diplomatic and strategic fallout.

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