Amidst reports that Pakistan has tested a surface to surface ballistic missile capable of hitting targets at 450 km, India sees it as a “reckless act of provocation” and a “dangerous escalation” of the situation. The planned missile test by Pakistan, under such “volatile conditions” is nothing short of a “blatant provocation” and a “desperate attempt to whip up tensions” with India, sources said on Saturday.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have been on the boil since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives. India has promised severe punishment to those involved in the strike, citing “cross-border linkages” with the attack. Many global powers, including the US and the European Union, have called on both sides to de-escalate, while unequivocally condemning the terror strike. “It has been learnt that Pakistan is preparing to test-fire surface-to-surface ballistic missiles this week,” sources said.
“This is a reckless act of provocation and a dangerous escalation in its hostile campaign against India,” they said. Pakistan has been frantically issuing naval warnings, ramping up naval drills in the Arabian Sea, and has indulged in continuous ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir since the April 22 attack, sources said.
India has already asserted that the “perpetrators, backers and planners” of the terror attack must be brought to justice.