Pakistan Test Fires Ballistic Missile Amid Escalating Tensions with India

By Munir Ahmed – Associated Press
ISLAMABAD, May 4, 2025 — Pakistan test-fired a surface-to-surface ballistic missile Saturday, as tensions with neighboring India soared in the wake of a deadly attack on tourists in the disputed Kashmir region last month.

According to the Pakistani military, the missile — part of the Abdali Weapon System — has a range of 450 kilometers (about 280 miles) and features advanced navigation and maneuverability capabilities. The launch was intended to verify operational readiness and validate key technical parameters, the statement said.

The test comes just weeks after the April 22 massacre in Pahalgam, a popular tourist town in Indian-controlled Kashmir, which left 26 people dead. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack — an accusation Islamabad has firmly denied.

Both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the military on the successful launch. Missiles in such tests are typically launched into remote desert areas or the Arabian Sea, away from the India-Pakistan border.

Security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali, based in Islamabad, noted the missile was named after a Muslim conqueror of India, calling it a “symbolic move with historical undertones.” He added, “The timing of this launch is critical given the current geopolitical climate. It’s a strategic message to India.”

The missile launch follows recent military exercises by India as well. On April 27, the Indian navy conducted successful anti-ship missile firings, underscoring their offensive readiness.

Ashok Malik, a former Indian foreign policy adviser, said national anger over the Pahalgam attack remains high. “There’s strong domestic pressure for a response,” he said. “While a full-scale war is unlikely, the government has political space for a calibrated military reaction.”

In recent days, the already-tense situation has escalated sharply. India expelled Pakistani diplomats, closed airspace to Pakistani flights, and banned all direct or indirect imports from Pakistan. It also barred Pakistani ships from docking in Indian ports.

Meanwhile, cross-border violence has intensified along the Line of Control (LoC) — the de facto border in Kashmir. India’s military reported Pakistani troops fired at Indian positions for the ninth consecutive night. Indian forces, they said, responded “promptly and proportionately.” Pakistan has not confirmed the exchange, and the incident could not be independently verified.

Kashmir remains at the heart of the two countries’ rivalry. Claimed in full by both nations but divided between them, the region has been the flashpoint for two of their three wars.

At the Wagah border crossing, where a daily flag-lowering ceremony draws patriotic crowds on both sides, emotions ran high on Saturday.

“No other event stirs such patriotism in me,” said Shoaib-ur-Rehman, who attended the ceremony. “I don’t want war, but if it happens, I will stand with our soldiers.”

Another spectator, Sundas Batool, echoed national sentiment: “India must provide evidence before making accusations. But if they want to see our spirit — look no further. We are ready for anything.”