The Pakistan military announced on Monday that it conducted a missile test with a range of 120 kilometers (75 miles), marking the second missile launch in just two days amid escalating tensions with India over the contentious Kashmir region. This announcement follows allegations from New Delhi accusing Islamabad of supporting a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month, which has intensified the standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
In its statement, the military emphasized that the launch was intended to ensure operational readiness among troops, as well as to validate critical technical parameters such as the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced accuracy. This latest test comes only two days after Pakistan successfully tested a surface-to-surface missile with a considerably longer range of 450 kilometers (280 miles).
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his contentment with the military’s preparedness for national defense, stating that the successful training launch illustrates the robust nature of Pakistan’s defense capabilities. The missile exercises occur against a backdrop of heightened rhetoric from India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi has granted his military “full operational freedom” to respond to an attack in Pahalgam that resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals.
Pakistan has strongly denied any involvement in the attack and has urged for an independent investigation into the matter. Additionally, Islamabad has issued warnings of potential air strikes from India, reiterating that it will respond decisively to any aggressive actions.
International pressures are mounting on both nations, which have a long history of conflict over Kashmir, to de-escalate the situation. Reports from Indian defense sources indicate that the two countries have been exchanging gunfire nightly along the heavily fortified Line of Control, which serves as the de facto border.
The Kashmir region, home to around 15 million people, is divided between Pakistan and India but is claimed in full by both parties. In response to the rising tensions, emergency drills are being conducted on the Pakistani side, with residents advised to stockpile food and medicine, and religious schools temporarily closed.
In Indian-administered Kashmir, authorities are conducting an extensive manhunt for the assailants involved in the recent attack, while residents along the border are either fleeing the area or fortifying their bunkers in anticipation of possible conflict.
In light of the growing unrest, Prime Minister Sharif has postponed an upcoming official visit to Malaysia, with discussions between the two countries confirming his intent to reschedule for later in the year. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is in Islamabad for an official visit, during which officials stressed that Pakistan is seeking support from friendly nations amid rising tensions.
