Pakistan carries out ballistic missile test amid escalating tension with India following Kashmir bloodshed incident
HEADLINE: Pakistan Fires Ballistic Missile Amidst Rising Tensions with India
SUBHEAD: The missile test, named after a Muslim conqueror of India, comes in the wake of the deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir, escalating the geopolitical tensions between the two nations.
Tensions between Pakistan and India escalate as Pakistan test-fires a surface-to-surface ballistic missile on Saturday, the missile named after a prominent Muslim conqueror of India, with a range of 450 kilometers (about 280 miles). The Pakistani military boasts that the missile's advanced navigation system and enhanced maneuverability features have been validated through the launch.
The missile test by Pakistan follows the deadly gun attack on tourists in the disputed Kashmir region that took place last month, an incident that India accuses Pakistan of orchestrating, while Pakistan vehemently denies these allegations. In response, India has expressed anger across the country, and there is significant international sympathy for India, even as there is little tolerance for Pakistan's actions.
The missile, named Abdali Weapon System, was fired into the Arabian Sea or the deserts of southwest Balochistan province, following the congratulations from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for a successful test.
Analyst Syed Muhammad Ali explains that the timing of the missile's launch is crucial in the current geopolitical context, as it serves as a strategic signal to India. The launch comes amidst threats made by India to suspend a crucial water-sharing treaty, underscoring the tension-filled atmosphere between the two nations.
Meanwhile, India's navy conducted anti-ship firings last month, revalidating and demonstrating its readiness for long-range precision offensive strikes. India has also enforced trade restrictions against Pakistan, while denying visa applications and suspending the exchange of mail, signaling a diplomatic and economic standoff between the two.
Both countries have been locked in a Cycle of hostility over the stunning Himalayan region of Kashmir, where they have fought two of their three wars and share a contentious border. Recent border skirmishes and military demonstrations have reflected the ongoing tensions between the two nations, with the latest flare-up leading to the expulsion of each other's diplomats and nationals, as well as the shuttering of airspaces.
Passions remain high among the Pakistanis who have traveled to the Wagah crossing with India to witness the famous flag-lowering ceremony, despite their desire to avoid a war with India.Nation & World Stories:
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- The latest escalation in tensions between Pakistan and India involves Pakistan's targeting of India with a test-fired ballistic missile named Abdali Weapon System, which has a range of 450 kilometers.
- The missile test by Pakistan is strategically significant given the ongoing war-and-conflicts and politics between the two countries, particularly over the disputed Kashmir region.
- Meanwhile, general news sources report that India's navy is also ready for long-range precision offensive strikes in response to similar border skirmishes and military demonstrations.
- Crime-and-justice issues have also come to the forefront as India has enforced trade restrictions against Pakistan, while denying visa applications and suspending the exchange of mail.
- Amidst this cycle of hostility, citizens from both nations continue to be affected, as witnessed by nation & world stories about the Wagah crossing, where passions remain high despite the potential for war between the two countries.
