India, May 3 -- Pakistan on Saturday claimed to have test-fired a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a 450-km range, further escalating the tense relationship with India following the recent Pahalgam terror attack.

The missile has been identified as Abdali Weapon System.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) was quoted as saying by Dunya News that the launch was part of Exercise Indus and aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile's advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features.

Following the successful launch, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and Services Chiefs ex...