Indian Navy tests fires medium-range surface-to-air missile in Arabian Sea amid tensions after Pahalgam massacre

The test comes in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists.

In a post on X, the Indian Navy wrote: "#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."

The test took place before the scheduled surface-to-surface missile testing by the Pakistan Navy in the Arabian Sea.

The MR-SAM is highly effective against surface-to-surface missiles and other aerial targets.

The latest development demonstrates the Indian Navy's growing prowess in indigenous warship design, development, and operations, and underscores the nation's commitment to self-reliance in defence manufacturing, according to a statement.

INS Surat is the fourth and final ship of the P15B Guided Missile Destroyer Project. The warship ranks among the largest and most sophisticated destroyers in the world, with an indigenous content of 75 percent.

It is equipped with state-of-the-art weapon-sensor packages and advanced network-centric capabilities.

PM Modi's message against terrorism

The terrorists and their backers will pay unimaginable costs for the attack on innocent tourists in Kashmir's Pahalgam, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

Addressing a rally in Bihar's Madhubani, Modi said: "From the soil of Bihar I tell the whole world that India will identify them and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the end of the earth. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished."

"Every effort will be made to ensure justice is done," he said, adding that the entire country is grieving the merciless killings.

"Some of the victims speak Bengali, some Kannada, some Marathi, some Gujarati, some  Oriya or some from the land of Bihar. Some lost their brother, some son, some life partner. But the attack is not just on the innocent tourists, but on the soul of India," he said, adding that India stands together in the face of terrorism.

Pahalgam Massacre

Twenty-six tourists died after terrorists identified them as non-Muslims and gunned them down in Baisaran meadows, a popular destination in Pahalgam.

World leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, condemned the attack.

The terrorists, who were apparently in camouflage, reportedly asked the victims to chant Islamic verse, pull down their pants to check circumcision in a bid to confirm their Hindu identities before gunning them down. One Nepali national was among those killed.