Pakistan testing missiles to validate their capabilities amid tensions with India
Pakistan conducted a successful training launch of a Fatah Series surface-to-surface missile with a range of 120 kilometers on Monday, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), announced.
The missile test was carried out as
part of the ongoing “Exercise Indus” and aimed at validating the system’s
technical capabilities, including its advanced navigation and precision
targeting systems. The ISPR emphasized that the launch reinforced the
operational readiness of Pakistan’s armed forces.
The test was observed by senior army
officials, along with scientists and engineers from Pakistan’s strategic
organizations. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Chief of
Army Staff extended their congratulations to the personnel involved, expressing
full confidence in the military’s preparedness to defend the nation’s
territorial integrity.
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President Asif Ali Zardari lauded
the successful launch, commending the efforts of the scientists, engineers, and
armed forces in strengthening national defense. In a message shared by the
Pakistan Peoples Party on X (formerly Twitter), the president reaffirmed the
country's unwavering commitment to ensuring national security.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also
praised the successful test, stating that the achievement demonstrated
Pakistan’s robust defense capabilities. "The success of the training
launch clearly shows that Pakistan’s defense is in strong hands," the
Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. The premier expressed satisfaction
with the professionalism and readiness of the Pakistan Army.
The missile test comes amid
escalating tensions between Pakistan and India, following a deadly April 22
attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam region that killed 26 people,
mostly tourists. New Delhi has implied cross-border involvement without
presenting evidence—a claim Islamabad has strongly denied, calling instead for
an impartial international investigation.
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In the aftermath of the incident,
India reportedly granted its military "operational freedom" while
Pakistan has fortified its defensive posture, citing repeated ceasefire
violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir since
April 25.
The Fatah missile launch follows a
similar test on Saturday of the Abdali Weapon System, which has a 450-kilometer
range. Pakistan previously tested the Fatah-II guided rocket system in May
2024, capable of reaching targets up to 400 kilometers away with high
precision, enabled by advanced terminal guidance and trajectory evasion technologies.
These developments underscore
Islamabad’s strategic focus on maintaining a credible deterrent amid volatile
regional dynamics.
Source: Dawn