THE Indian Navy on Sunday said its warships have successfully carried out multiple anti-ship firings, revalidating their readiness for long-range precision “offensive” strikes. The demonstration of the Navy’s combat prowess came amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan over the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Citing “cross-border linkages” to the horrific attack, India has already promised severe punishment to those involved in the strike that triggered wide-spread outrage within India and abroad. “Indian Navy ships undertook successful multiple anti-ship firings to revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems and crew for long range precision offensive strike,” the Indian Navy said in a brief statement. “Indian Navy stands combat ready, credible and future ready in safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests anytime, anywhere, anyhow,” it said. The Indian Navy also released videos of the live firings at sea but did not provide details like when the exercise was carried out. As the tensions between the two countries soared, Pakistani military continued to resort to unprovoked firing along the Line of Control in the areas opposite Tutmari Gali and Rampur Sectors Saturday night, military sources said. The Pakistan military resorted to similar firings on Thursday and Friday nights as well.

 

“Our troops responded effectively with appropriate small arms fire,” said an Indian official. Against the backdrop of the escalating tensions, the Indian 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 last week. This anti-ship firing drill conducted by the Navy has re-validated the readiness of the platform, systems and personnel for conducting longrange precision offensive strikes. The Navy said that they have carried out several successful anti-ship missile firings to demonstrate the readiness of the personnel.

 

The Navy is reliable and ready to combat any kind of attacks by the enemy in the future as well. “Indian Navy Ships undertook successful multiple anti-ship firings to revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems, and crew for long-range precision offensive strike. Indian Navy stands combat-ready, credible, and future-ready in safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests Anytime Anywhere Anyhow,” said the Indian Navy in a post. On April 22, Pakistan-backed terrorists opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 people. Among them was Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, a 26-yearold Naval officer from Haryana’s Karnal. He had got married on April 16, and the couple was on their honeymoon in Kashmir.

 

The terrorists killed the tourists after asking about their religion. The Navy had fired a medium-range surface-to-air missile. According to the Navy, during this time, India’s indigenous missile destroyer INS Surat successfully hit the target in the sea. This Naval destroyer is equipped with the capability to destroy enemy missiles mid-air. The Indian Army is fully alert and prepared to respond to any nefarious act by Pakistan. Army Chief General Dwivedi has also reviewed the actions taken by the Army so far. At the same time, the Indian Navy has also displayed its preparations strongly.