On Saturday, Pakistan‘s military announced the successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System, a surface-to-surface missile capable of reaching 450 kilometers, which has heightened tensions with its long-time rival, India.
This development follows accusations from New Delhi that Islamabad supported a recent attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, leading to increased hostilities between the two nuclear-armed nations.
The military’s statement emphasized that the launch was intended to ensure troop readiness and to validate critical technical aspects, such as the missile’s advanced navigation and enhanced maneuverability.
Additionally, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir, held a meeting with senior commanders to discuss the ongoing standoff with India, stressing the need for heightened vigilance and readiness.
In response to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in 26 fatalities, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that his military has been granted full operational freedom to retaliate and pursue those responsible. Pakistan has denied any involvement and has issued warnings of potential air strikes from India, asserting its commitment to respond forcefully to any aggression.
Both nations, which have a history of conflict over the Kashmir region, are facing international calls to resolve their issues through dialogue, as they have engaged in a series of diplomatic exchanges and border closures since the attack, which marked one of the deadliest incidents involving civilians in years.
For nine consecutive nights, two nuclear-armed nations have engaged in gunfire along the militarized Line of Control, which serves as the de facto border, as reported by Indian defense sources.
The Muslim-majority region of Kashmir, home to approximately 15 million residents, is divided yet fully claimed by both Pakistan and India, who have fought three major wars since their partition in 1947.
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