• Source:JND
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In the wake of the brutal April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 innocent civilians, India responded with unprecedented swiftness and precision. In the early hours of Wednesday, the Indian Air Force and Army launched Operation Sindoor, a series of coordinated strikes against terrorist training camps within Pakistan and Pakistan‑occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). New Delhi has emphasised that these operations were narrowly focused on dismantling terror infrastructure, sparing civilian and military installations alike.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval conducted outreach to key international counterparts, assuring the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and others that India’s aim was de‑escalation rather than confrontation. Doval highlighted India’s readiness to “retaliate resolutely” should Pakistan choose to counterattack, but reiterated that New Delhi preferred measured, surgical action over broad escalation.

As tensions rise, Operation Sindoor has reignited intense scrutiny of Pakistan’s own military posture, particularly its missile inventory. From short‑range battlefield rockets to medium‑range systems capable of reaching major Indian cities, Pakistan’s arsenal looms large over any cross‑border flare‑up. 

Pakistan’s Missile Arsenal

Pakistan fields a layered missile force principally designed for short‑ to medium‑range deterrence. As of 2025, its key delivery systems include:

 - Hatf‑1 (SRBM): Range 70–100 km

 - Abdali (Hatf 2) (SRBM): Range 180–200 km

 - Ghaznavi (Hatf 3) (SRBM): Range ~290 km

 - Babur (Hatf 7) (Cruise Missile): Range 350–700 km

 - Exocet (Anti‑ship Cruise Missile): Range 40–180 km

 - Ghauri (Hatf 5) (MRBM): Range 1,250–1,500 km

Short‑Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs)

SRBMs like Hatf‑1, Abdali, and Ghaznavi serve tactical battlefield roles. With maximum ranges under 300 km, they can strike across the Line of Control and into India’s frontier regions. Their deployment in forward bases ensures a rapid response to perceived incursions or terrorist sanctuaries near the border.

Medium‑Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs)

Pakistan’s MRBM arsenal includes the Ghauri missile, nuclear‑capable with an estimated range of 1,300 km. This allows it to threaten major Indian metropolitan centres such as Delhi and Mumbai from launch sites within Pakistan. The Babur cruise missile, also nuclear‑capable, flies at low altitude to evade radar and can reach up to 700 km, enabling precision strikes on key military and civilian infrastructure deep inside India.

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Advanced Delivery Systems

Beyond its short- and medium‑range systems, Pakistan has also field‑tested two significant strategic missiles. The Shaheen‑III, a medium‑range ballistic missile with a maximum reach of approximately 2,750 km, is theoretically capable of striking targets across the entirety of India and well beyond. Complementing this is the Ababeel missile—also a medium‑range system—boasting a range of around 2,200 km and the advanced ability to deploy multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVS), a feature that significantly complicates missile-defence interception. Despite these advances, Pakistan does not possess true intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) with ranges exceeding 3,500 km, instead prioritising a robust arsenal tailored for regional deterrence against India.

Militarily, Pakistan fields missiles with the range to hit targets as distant as Delhi. India’s air-defence network, including S‑400 and Akash batteries, has, however, been greatly enhanced, giving it the capability to intercept any incoming missile or aerial threat in time.

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