Pakistan successfully test-fired its Nasr ballistic missile on Saturday, May 3, escalating tensions with India following a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir last week.
The short-range, surface-to-surface missile, with a 450-km (280-mile) range, enhances Pakistan’s deterrence against India’s Cold Start doctrine, the military announced, reports Dawn.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the scientists and engineers involved. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, citing “credible intelligence” of an imminent Indian attack, vowed a strong response to any aggression from its nuclear rival.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that recent tests validated Nasr’s enhanced range (60-70 km) and manoeuvrability, strengthening deterrence against anti-missile defences.
Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, who observed a training launch on Wednesday, declared, “Nasr has put cold water on Cold Start,” emphasising Pakistan’s commitment to peace through dialogue while maintaining robust strategic capabilities. “War is not an option,” he added, hailing the scientists as “unseen heroes.”
India’s Cold Start doctrine, designed for swift, limited territorial incursions without triggering nuclear conflict, is viewed by Pakistan as a direct threat.
Nasr counters this strategy, alongside India’s own tactical nuclear weapons like Prahaar (150-km range). The doctrine gained global attention in 2016 when former US President Barack Obama raised concerns about tactical nuclear weapons’ risks.
The launch, witnessed by Lt Gen Mazhar Jamil, Lt Gen Mian Muhammad Hilal Hussain, and NESCOM Chairman Dr Nabeel Hayat Malik, underscores Pakistan’s resolve to secure regional stability amid heightened geopolitical friction.
Source: Dawn