New Delhi: A day after Pakistan issued a Notice to Airmen/Mariners (NOTAM) warning for the Arabian Sea and launched a naval live fire exercise, Indian Navy Thursday engaged a sea-skimming target using a Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM).
“#IndianNavy’s latest indigenous guided missile destroyer #INSSurat successfully carried out a precision cooperative engagement of a sea-skimming target, marking another milestone in strengthening our defence capabilities,” Indian Navy’s official X handle posted.
The previous day, Pakistan had issued the NOTAM with coordinates in the Arabian Sea near its territorial waters for 24 and 25 April, as reported by ThePrint. Pakistan Navy was also reportedly set to conduct a surface-to-surface missile test in the Arabian Sea. But there was no clarity at the time of filing this report whether the test had been conducted or not.
Explaining the nature of the Indian operation, a source in the defence and security establishment told ThePrint, “Precision cooperative engagement against sea-skimming targets involves more than one naval asset sharing real-time data to create an integrated, highly accurate tracking and engagement of an aerial target that could be flying about 10–20 metres above sea level.”
The source added that this approach, known as Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), enables a networked system that allows rapid action even if the target is initially detected by only one platform.
Indian Navy, in a press statement, said, “This achievement demonstrates India’s growing prowess in indigenous warship design, development, and operations, and underscores the nation’s commitment to self-reliance in defence manufacturing.” This development comes at a time when India and Pakistan’s already strained relations have taken a further plunge following a terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 people.
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Thursday that India cannot be intimidated by such terrorist activities and that the central government would not only catch hold of those who carried out the attack but also those who were operating from behind the scenes.
In a briefing held later that day, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, following the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting, cited “cross-border linkages” of the attackers.
In a diplomatic response, the Centre has put the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance. Additionally, the Integrated Check Post at Attari has been closed with immediate effect. Misri also announced that Pakistani nationals would no longer be permitted to travel to India under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES).
Moreover, defence, naval, and air advisers posted at Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared ‘persona non grata’. They have been given one week to leave the country. India too will withdraw its advisers from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
The overall strength of both High Commissions will be reduced from 55 to 30 from 1 May, Misri said.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)
Also Read: Photo ops to ‘personal’ outreach, Mahayuti’s top 3 in credit war over Pahalgam rescue op