Pakistan on Saturday conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System, a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometers, as part of Exercise Indus. The test, aimed at ensuring operational readiness and validating advanced navigation and maneuverability, was witnessed by senior military officials, including the Commander of the Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC), representatives from the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), and scientists from Pakistan’s strategic organizations.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the launch demonstrated the missile’s precision targeting and stable flight performance, meeting all objectives. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, and the service chiefs congratulated the troops and scientists, expressing “complete confidence” in Pakistan’s strategic deterrence capabilities. They emphasized the forces’ ability to “safeguard national security against any aggression.”
The test comes amid heightened tensions with India following the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir, which killed 26 people. India has blamed Pakistan without evidence, while Islamabad has denied involvement and called for an independent probe. In response, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted his military “full operational freedom,” prompting Pakistan to reinforce its defenses along the Line of Control (LoC).
Military analysts view the missile test as a deterrent signal. Hasan Askari Rizvi, a defense expert, said, “This shows we have the resources to counter India. It’s a message not just to them, but the world, that we are prepared.” Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir recently warned that any Indian “misadventure” would be met with a “swift, resolute, and notch-up response.”
Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions are underway, with the US and EU engaging both nations. The Abdali test follows Pakistan’s August 2024 launch of the Shaheen-II ballistic missile, reinforcing its strategic capabilities.
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