Pakistan tests new weapons system amid high tensions with India

Pakistan said on Saturday it had test-fired a new weapons system as tensions with arch-rival India remained high over Kashmir following a deadly terrorist attack in the disputed region.

Pakistan conducted a “successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System — a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometres,” the military’s media arm said.

“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 manoeuvrability features,” the statement added.

The move comes as the nuclear-armed neighbours stand on the brink of a military standoff. They have already closed border crossings, blocked trade, downgraded diplomatic relations and ordered the expulsion of each other's citizens in tit-for-tat measures.

On April 22, at least 26 tourists were killed in the town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir. New Delhi pointed the finger at Islamabad for being behind the killings.

Pakistan denied the accusation and offered to hold an independent investigation.

However, border forces of both countries have exchanged fire several times since then and on Wednesday Pakistan said it had “credible intelligence” that India would soon carry out some kind of military action.

Pakistan and rival India conducted nuclear tests days apart from each other in May 1998. Both have since been developing stockpiles of nuclear warheads and a missile-based delivery system.