Pakistan Tests Second Missile After India Holds Chenab Water, Shows 'Technical Proficiency To Thwart Aggression'

On Monday (5 May), as part of the ongoing INDUS exercise, the military in Pakistan announced the successful test-firing of a surface-to-surface missile with a reach of 120 kilometres.

“The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile's advanced navigation system and enhanced accuracy,” the Pakistan Army was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

“Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and the Chief of Army Staff extended their congratulations to the participating troops, scientists, and engineers. They expressed complete confidence in the operational preparedness and technical proficiency of Pakistan Army to thwart any aggression against the territorial integrity of Pakistan,” the ISPR statement read.

Pakistan's recent test launch follows a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, as well as the Navy Chief, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi. During this meeting, they updated the PM on the operational readiness of the armed forces.

India has remained silent on the missile tests conducted by Pakistan, however, prior to the launch, officials had labeled it as a "reckless provocation." Yesterday, India stopped Chenab water to Pakistan.

On Sunday, all political parties in Pakistan, including the imprisoned former PM Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party, were updated by the government and military about the existing status of relations with India, according to a report by Dawn. The briefing was attended virtually by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party.

The report revealed that every political party pledged a strong reaction if India embarked on any form of "misadventure."

In response to Indian Prime Minister Modi's decision to give the armed forces "complete freedom" to retaliate, potentially leading to a military reaction, Pakistan has been preparing its military forces and conducting rigorous exercises and live firings in the Arabian Sea. Concurrently, the Indian Navy has been conducting naval exercises on the West Coast.