Carries out multiple anti-ship missile firings in Arabian Sea
New Delhi: The Indian Navy on Sunday said its warships have successfully carried out multiple anti-ship firings, revalidating their readiness for long-range precision “offensive” strikes.
The demonstration of the Navy’s combat prowess came amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan over the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
Citing “cross-border linkages” to the horrific attack, India has already promised severe punishment to those involved in the strike that triggered widespread outrage within India and abroad. “Indian Navy ships undertook successful multiple anti-ship firings to revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems and crew for long range precision offensive strike,” the Indian Navy said in a brief statement.
“Indian Navy stands combat-ready, credible and future ready in safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests anytime, anywhere, anyhow,” it said.
The Indian Navy also released videos of the live firings at sea but did not provide details like when the exercise was carried out.
As the tensions between the two countries soared, it is learnt that Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chouhan called on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Though there is no official word on what transpired in the meeting, it is learnt that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir figured in the discussion.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani military continued to resort to unprovoked firing along the Line of Control in the areas opposite Tutmari Gali and Rampur Sectors on Saturday night, military sources said. The Pakistan military resorted to similar firings on Thursday and Friday nights as well.
“Our troops responded effectively with appropriate small arms fire,” said an Indian official.
The Pahalgam attack was the worst terror strike on civilians in India since the 26/11 Mumbai attack.
537 Pak nationals leave via Attari
New Delhi: As many as 537 Pakistani nationals left India through the Attari-Wagah border point in four days beginning April 24 as the exit deadline for the 12 categories of short-term visa holders of the nation ended on Sunday.
A total of 850 Indians, including 14 diplomats and officials, have returned from Pakistan through the international border crossing located in Punjab in the last four days.
Any Pakistani, who fails to leave India as per the deadlines set by the government will be arrested, prosecuted and may face a jail term of up to three years or a fine of a maximum Rs 3 lakh or both.
The ‘Leave India’ notice to the Pakistani nationals was issued by the government after 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed by Pakistan-linked terrorists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.
