RAWALPINDI, May 3, 2025 — Pakistan on Saturday conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali weapon system, a short-range surface-to-surface missile capable of striking targets up to 450 kilometres away.
The launch was part of Exercise INDUS, a military drill focused on testing operational readiness and technical performance.
Advanced Features Validated
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the test verified the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features. The training launch was meant to ensure combat readiness and validate critical technical parameters.
Senior military officials, including the Commander of Army Strategic Forces Command, attended the event. Representatives from the Strategic Plans Division, engineers, and scientists from Pakistan’s strategic organizations also witnessed the launch.
Top Leadership Praises Strategic Forces
Following the test, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, and all three services chiefs congratulated the teams involved.
“They expressed complete confidence in the operational preparedness and technical excellence of Pakistan’s strategic forces,” the ISPR stated. The leadership reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining a credible minimum deterrence to protect national security.
Read: India Bans Imports from Pakistan as Kashmir Tensions Escalate
Timing Raises Geopolitical Concerns
The missile test came at a sensitive time. Tensions have flared between Pakistan and India after a deadly attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
India has blamed Pakistan for the assault, offering no concrete evidence. Pakistan has strongly denied any involvement and rejected the accusation.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded by granting his military “full operational freedom.” In response, Pakistan has warned of a possible imminent strike from its eastern neighbor.
Strategic Messaging
While Pakistan’s military maintains that the Abdali test was a routine part of its training cycle, analysts believe it also carries a strong strategic message.
The launch showcases Pakistan’s capability to respond swiftly and decisively in the face of rising tensions. The Abdali missile is designed for precision strikes and can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.
Regional Implications
Security experts warn that the situation could escalate if diplomacy fails. They stress the importance of restraint and communication between the two nuclear-armed nations.
Meanwhile, international observers are closely monitoring developments in South Asia, urging both sides to de-escalate and resume dialogue.
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