Pakistan Test-Fires 450 km-Range Ballistic Missile Amid Rising Tensions With India
Pakistan carried out a test launch on Saturday of the Abdali surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which has a range of 450 kilometres, Zee News TV reported.
After the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that killed 26 people, the tension between India and Pakistan has ramped up considerably with almost daily incidents of gunfire exchange along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.
In response to India’s diplomatic actions following the terror attack—including suspending visas for Pakistani nationals, ordering staff cuts at the Pakistani High Commission, and closing the Attari border—Pakistan has repeatedly issued NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) signalling potential missile tests in the region as a display of strength.
Breaking: Pakistan tests fires surface-to-surface Abdali missile. pic.twitter.com/DPhM6V4MjN
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) May 3, 2025
ANI source said that the planned missile test in such volatile conditions was a “desperate attempt to whip up tensions with India.”
Since the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan issued the first NOTAM on the night of April 23 with less than 24 hour notice for test firing, however, no ballistic missile firing was observed. Soon thereafter notifications were issued on April 26th-27th of firing by Pakistani Naval ships off the coast of Karachi, however, no firing drills were conducted. After two non-attempts, Pakistan repeated a third attempt on April 30th- May 2nd of firings close to India’s Exclusive Economic Zone, but again, no firings were conducted.
