Saturday, March 29, 2025
Amid escalating tensions with India, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday praised his country’s second missile test, asserting that Pakistan’s defense is in “strong hands.” Sharif expressed satisfaction with the military’s “full preparedness for national defense.”
Speaking during a visit to the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) in Abbottabad for a passing-out parade, PM Sharif said in a statement, “The successful training launch clearly demonstrates that Pakistan’s defense is in strong hands,” according to AFP news agency.
The missile test was conducted as part of ongoing military exercises code-named INDUS. According to the Pakistani military, the missile tested was a surface-to-surface system with a range of 120 kilometers. The launch aimed to validate the troops’ operational readiness and to certify key technical parameters, including an advanced navigation system and enhanced accuracy.
This was the second such missile test since Saturday, when Pakistan tested its Abdali ballistic missile defense system, which has a range of 450 kilometers.
Indian officials responded critically, labeling Islamabad’s missile tests as “reckless and provocative actions.”
Tensions between the two countries have surged following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which killed 26 people, most of them tourists. The attack is being described as one of the deadliest since the 2019 Pulwama bombing. India has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
In retaliation, India announced several punitive measures against Pakistan, including:
Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty
Closure of the land border crossing at Attari
Downgrading of diplomatic relations
Cancellation of all visa types issued to Pakistani nationals, with a directive for them to leave India by April 30
Closure of Indian airspace to flights operated by Pakistan International Airlines
In response, Pakistan suspended all trade with India, including transit for third-party countries, and barred Indian airlines from using its airspace. Pakistani forces have also reportedly been violating the ceasefire at the Line of Control for the past 10 days.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held several high-level meetings with top government and military officials since April 22. Last month, during a key security briefing, Modi declared that the armed forces have full operational freedom to decide the “manner, targets, and timing” of India’s response.
