'Anytime, anywhere, anyhow': Indian Navy's multiple anti-ship firings amid tensions with Pakistan

As tensions escalated between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian Navy on Sunday conducted successful multiple anti-ship firings to demonstrate its operational readiness.

 

"Indian Navy Ships undertook successful multiple anti-ship firings to revalidate and demonstrate the readiness of platforms, systems and crew for long-range precision offensive strike," the force said in a post on X.

 

"Indian Navy stands combat-ready, credible and future-ready in safeguarding the nation's maritime interests anytime, anywhere, anyhow," it said.

 

The Navy also shared videos of the drill at sea but did not provide details, such as when the exercise was carried out.

 

Last week, the Navy's guided missile destroyer INS Surat fired a medium-range surface-to-air missile against a "sea-skimming" target in the Western Indian Ocean.

 

Tension between the nuclear-armed neighbours escalated after a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, in which 26 people, including two foreign nationals, were killed.

 

New Delhi has alleged the role of Pakistan-based terrorists in the attack and announced a slew of punitive measures against the neighbouring country, including suspending the Indus Water Treaty.

 

India has also shut down the Attari border, downgraded diplomatic ties and suspended visas issued to Pakistani nationals.

 

In response, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines and suspended all trade with India.

 

In his 'Mann ki Baat' address on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the "perpetrators and conspirators" of the Pahalgam attack will be "served with the harshest response".

 

"The perpetrators and conspirators of this attack will be served with the harshest response," he said.

Defence