Pakistan carried out a test launch on Saturday of the Abdali surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which has a range of 450 kilometres, Zee News TV reported.

After the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that killed 26 people, the tension between India and Pakistan has ramped up considerably with almost daily incidents of gunfire exchange along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.

In response to India’s diplomatic actions following the terror attack—including suspending visas for Pakistani nationals, ordering staff cuts at the Pakistani High Commission, and closing the Attari border—Pakistan has repeatedly issued NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) signalling potential missile tests in the region as a display of strength.

Breaking: Pakistan tests fires surface-to-surface Abdali missile. pic.twitter.com/DPhM6V4MjN
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) May 3, 2025

ANI source said that the planned missile test in such volatile conditions was a “desperate attempt to whip up tensions with India.”

Since the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan issued the first NOTAM on the night of April 23 with less than 24 hour notice for test firing, however, no ballistic missile firing was observed. Soon thereafter notifications were issued on April 26th-27th of firing by Pakistani Naval ships off the coast of Karachi, however, no firing drills were conducted. After two non-attempts, Pakistan repeated a third attempt on April 30th- May 2nd of firings close to India’s Exclusive Economic Zone, but again, no firings were conducted.

NEW DELHI: India on Saturday announced a series of sweeping punitive measures against Pakistan, halting all imports, suspending mail services, and denying port access to Pakistani vessels with immediate effect.
The move marks a sharp escalation following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, most of them tourists.
A notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on May 2, and now incorporated into the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, states: “Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders.” Any exemptions will require explicit government approval.
The Department of Posts has simultaneously suspended the exchange of all categories of mail and parcels from Pakistan via air and land routes. A government official said this suspension is in response to “cross-border linkages” identified in the Pahalgam strike and vowed “severe punishment to those involved in the attack.”
India has also barred ships bearing the Pakistani flag from docking at any Indian port. The directive, issued in the interest of national security, also prohibits Indian-flagged vessels from visiting Pakistani ports. “This order is issued to ensure safety of Indian assets, cargo and connected infrastructure, in public interest and for interest of Indian shipping,” the notification reads.
Trade data reveals limited bilateral exchange in recent years. From April 2024 to January 2025, India imported just $2.88 million worth of goods from Pakistan—mainly fruits, nuts, oilseeds, and medicinal plants—while exports stood at $1.18 billion, dominated by organic chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Previous years saw similar trends, with 2022–23 exports at $627.1 million and imports at $20.11 million.
Other major Indian exports to Pakistan have included sugar, cereals, vegetables, tea, petroleum products, fertilisers, and auto parts.