120km Fatah missile tested amid diplomatic frenzy
Pak-India tensions: friendly countries call for restraint
STATE OF THE NATION
May 5, 2025
AT a time when several foreign ministers and diplomats are actively engaging with Pakistani and Indian officials to defuse tensions between their two countries, the Pakistani armed forces successfully tested the surface-to-surface Fatah missile.
According to an official statement from the military’s media wing, the Fatah missile has a range of 120 kilometres. Daily Dawn quoted Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) as stating that the launch was conducted as part of ongoing military exercises, Ex INDUS, which are aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating technical parameters of the missile system.
The launch was witnessed by senior army officials, along with scientists and engineers affiliated with the country’s strategic organisations. Following the test, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir congratulated the participating personnel.
They expressed full confidence in the armed forces’ operational preparedness and technical capabilities to defend Pakistan’s territorial integrity against any external threat.
This marks the second missile launch by Pakistan’s military in as many days, taking place amid rising regional tensions triggered by recent developments in Pakistan-India relations.
On Saturday, Pakistan successfully carried out a training launch of its Abdali surface-to-surface weapon system, the military reported. In May 2024, the Pakistan Army had tested the Fatah-II guided rocket system, which has a range of 400 kilometres.
Amid these developments, several international and regional actors have been urging restraint between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Tensions have remained high since the April 22 attack on tourists in Occupied Kashmir.
On Sunday, diplomatic efforts gained momentum as Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received a phone call from his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) — a bloc of oil-rich Arab states — also issued a statement urging the neighbours to resolve their differences through diplomacy.
In the early hours of Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad as part of Tehran’s mediation efforts between Pakistan and India. Pakistan and Iran enjoy close bilateral relations rooted in a shared history, culture, and religion.
Tensions have continued to escalate following the deadly Pahalgam attack, with New Delhi blaming Pakistan without providing any evidence. In his conversation with Lavrov, Foreign Minister Dar rejected what he described as India’s “baseless allegations and inflammatory rhetoric”, and condemned New Delhi’s unilateral and unlawful move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty — calling it a violation of international obligations.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, Dar emphasised that the country would resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and national interests. He reiterated Pakistan’s offer for an international, transparent, and independent investigation into the incident.
Lavrov, who had spoken to Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar the previous day, expressed concern over the situation and underlined the importance of diplomacy and restraint to prevent further escalation.
The two ministers also discussed the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Russia relations and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation across various sectors.