On Monday, the Pakistani military conducted a training launch of a Fatah Series surface-to-surface missile, which can hit targets up to 120 kilometres away, to check the readiness of its troops, according to Pakistani newspaper Dawn. This launch took place at a time when tensions with India are rising after the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.

“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 Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement. On May 3, Islamabad tested the Abdali missile system, which is a surface-to-surface missile capable of travelling up to 450 kilometres.

In the meantime, last week, the Indian Navy reported that its latest homegrown guided missile destroyer, INS Surat, successfully intercepted and destroyed a fast, low-flying missile target that was gliding just above the sea surface. Additionally, on April 27, the Navy announced that its ships carried out several successful anti-ship missile launches, demonstrating their readiness for long-range precision strikes. "Indian Navy stands combat ready, credible and future ready in safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests anytime, anywhere and anyhow," the Indian Navy added. 

India’s missile test comes at a time when Pakistani troops have been violating the ceasefire for the past 11 days along the Line of Control (LoC). On the night between May 4 and May 5, Pakistani forces started unprovoked small arms firing in areas across from Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajauri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani and Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army responded quickly and appropriately, according to an official statement.