Pakistani officials say the recent launch demonstrates the armed forces’ readiness “to thwart any aggression.”
Pakistan’s military has announced the successful test launch of a Fatah series short-range surface-to-surface missile.
This launch, the second in three days, occurs amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and India following a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir last month.
According to a statement from The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the missile test, with a range of 120 kilometers (74.5 miles), “aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced accuracy.”
The Fatah missile series comprises domestically developed surface-to-surface guided rocket systems produced by Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS), Pakistan’s state-owned defense conglomerate.
The statement added that the event “was witnessed by senior officers of Pakistan Army” who “expressed complete confidence in the operational preparedness… of Pakistan Army to thwart any aggression against the territorial integrity of Pakistan.”
On Saturday, Islamabad tested the Abdali Weapon System, a surface-to-surface missile with a 450km (280 miles) range. Both tests were part of Exercise Indus.
While India hasn’t officially commented, the Hindustan Times reported prior to the first drill that New Delhi condemned the planned test as a “reckless act of provocation.”
Tensions escalated after 26 civilians were killed in the Baisaran Valley in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.
The Resistance Front, suspected of links to Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility but later retracted. Indian authorities have identified three suspects, including two Pakistani citizens.
India has accused Pakistan of supporting militants involved in cross-border operations, a charge Pakistan denies.
Last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted the armed forces “full operational freedom” to respond to the terrorist attack.
Both countries have expelled diplomats, closed airspace, and engaged in cross-border shelling along the Line of Control (LoC).