Pakistan test-fires Fatah, its second surface-to-surface missile in 48 hours

Photo for representational purpose only.

Rattled by the anticipation of a military retaliation by India, Pakistan conducted a test launch of another surface-to-surface missile on Monday.

According to media reports citing a statement by the ISPR, a FATAH Series surface-to-surface missile was tested at an undisclosed location. This was Pakistan’s second missile test in the last 48 hours. On May 3, Islamabad had test-fired the Abdali Weapon System.

While the FATAH Series missile has a target range of 120 km, the Abdali has a range of 450 km. The development comes amid the latest round of escalation between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. Terrorists had gunned down 26 men—mostly tourists—in the meadows of Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam on April 22.

Both missiles have been tested as part of the ongoing military exercise - 'Ex INDUS'.  While Indian agencies say that their probe reveals how terrorists trained in Pakistan carried out the Pahalgam terror attack, Islamabad has been in denial mode. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, while seeking a 'neutral probe', termed the April 22 carnage as 'domestic issue.'

Meanwhile, a Reuters report said that India has begun new measures to expand the reservoir capacity i to projects located in Kashmir. The report said that flushing of Salal and Baglihar projects has begun. This was never done since the time these dams were built in 1987 and 2008/09. India had never conducted the flushing due to the clauses in the Indus Waters Treaty which was suspended following the Pahalgam terror attack.