DE News Desk :
Pakistan’s military on Saturday conducted a training launch of a surface-to-surface missile system, a move likely to further escalate tensions with neighbouring India following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan’s military media wing, confirmed the “successful training launch” of the Abdali Weapon System, a short-range ballistic missile with a strike range of 450 kilometres.
The purpose of the launch, according to ISPR, was to assess operational readiness and validate critical technical parameters, including the missile’s navigation system and maneuverability.
The exact location of the missile test was not disclosed.The test comes in the wake of a major attack in the Pahalgam region of Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people, primarily Hindu tourists.
India has accused Pakistan of supporting the perpetrators, a claim Islamabad has categorically denied, instead calling for an independent international investigation into the incident.
Tensions have soared since the attack, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi granting his armed forces “full operational freedom” to respond.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has warned of potential Indian air strikes and vowed to respond decisively to any military aggression.
The situation has drawn international concern, with China urging both sides to exercise restraint and the European Union calling the current state of affairs “alarming.”
In an interview with Fox News, U.S. Vice President JD Vance urged India to avoid steps that could provoke broader regional conflict, while also calling on Pakistan to take firm action against militant elements operating from its territory.
Military analysts in Pakistan view the missile launch as a calibrated show of strength.
“This sends a clear message not just to India, but to the international community, that Pakistan is fully prepared to defend itself,” said Hasan Askari Rizvi, a prominent defence analyst.
On Friday, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir chaired a high-level meeting with top commanders to assess the evolving situation.
According to a military statement, Munir emphasized the importance of “heightened vigilance and proactive readiness” across all domains.
Diplomatic ties between the two countries have frayed further in recent weeks, with both sides engaging in tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats and temporary closures of border crossings.
Cross-border shelling has continued for nine consecutive nights along the Line of Control, according to Indian defence sources.
Kashmir remains a deeply contested region, claimed in full by both countries but administered separately.
Since 1989, insurgents in Indian-administered Kashmir have waged a rebellion seeking independence or union with Pakistan.
India routinely accuses Pakistan of providing material support to these groups — an allegation Islamabad denies, insisting it only supports the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and consistently highlights alleged human rights abuses in the region.