Russia delivers Igla missiles to India amid Pakistan tension

The Indian army has received a new batch of Igla-S portable air defense missile systems (MANPADS) from Russia, valued at approximately $30 million, during a period of escalating tension in relations with Pakistan.

According to a report by India Today, this delivery occurred as tensions between the two countries sharply increased following the recent attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people.

The missiles have reportedly already entered the inventory of army air defense units and have been deployed to potential conflict zones to provide protection against aircraft, attack helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly held a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 5.

According to a statement by Indian Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, Putin strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam during the call.

Jaiswal stated that Putin “promised full support to India in combating terrorism” and emphasized that the perpetrators and their accomplices should be punished.

Tension between India and Pakistan began after the attack in the Pahalgam region of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.

While New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the attack, Pakistan categorically denied the accusations.

Subsequently, the “Kashmir Resistance Front,” an organization reportedly linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, claimed responsibility for the attack.

In response to the worsening situation, both countries effectively closed their borders and began deploying troops to the region.

Clashes occurred along the Line of Contact, while the Indian armed forces tested anti-ship missiles.

The Indian Navy announced that the purpose of these tests was to demonstrate “precision strike capability” at long ranges.

The Pakistan Ministry of Defence, however, stated that the response to a potential attack would be “more than just retaliation.”

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated on April 28 that his country expected a military attack from India in the near future.

In recent days, Islamabad conducted a test of the short-range ballistic missile Abdali, which can hit targets up to 450 kilometers away.

A statement from Pakistan indicated that the purpose of the test was to confirm the armed forces’ readiness for war and to check the modernized technical specifications of the missile.

The tension gained a new dimension on May 5 when it was learned that India had cut off the flow of water to Pakistan via the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River.

New Delhi is also reportedly planning to limit the flow of water via the Kishanganga Dam on the Jhelum River. Both hydroelectric power plants are located in the territory of Jammu and Kashmir and play a key role in regulating the water supply in the Indus River basin, which is vital for Pakistan’s agriculture and energy sectors.