May 3, 2025 — Pakistan has successfully tested-fired its Abdali surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which now has an enhanced range of up to 450 kilometers. The test was as part of a military exercise code-named “Exercise Indus,” aimed at testing the upgraded guidance system of the missile as well as enhanced maneuverability.
The Abdali missile, whose range was previously estimated at some 180 to 200 kilometers, seems to have been technologically upgraded quite significantly. The test was witnessed by senior officials of Pakistan’s Strategic Forces Command and Strategic Plans Division, which is responsible for the country’s strategic weapons platforms.
This test of the missile occurs as tensions between India and Pakistan rise. Recently, a terrorist attack in Pahalgam killed 26 individuals, the majority of whom were Hindus. India accused Pakistan of carrying out the attack, a claim that Islamabad vehemently denied. India responded by suspending the exchange of all incoming mail and packages from Pakistan, further straining diplomatic relations.
Indian officials condemned the missile test as a provocative move and an escalation that challenges regional stability. Before launching the missile, Pakistan had placed warnings for sea activity and mobilized its military base in the Arabian Sea as a calculated show of force.
Blasting into this pressure, the test coincided with India temporarily halting the Indus Waters Treaty, which governs sharing of water between the two countries. Pakistan strongly replied, indicating that any step toward changing or shutting off its allocation of river water would be construed as a move of war.
As the region braces for potential fallout, the international community has urged both countries to exercise restraint and seek diplomatic solutions to avoid further escalation.
