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Pakistan tests nuclear capable ballistic missile: army

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, May 10, IRNA -- Pakistan Thursday conducted a successful training launch of Short Range Ballistic Missile, which can carry nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 290 kilometers, the army said.

The launch of Hatf III (Ghaznavi) was conducted at the conclusion of the annual field training exercise of Army Strategic Force Command (ASFC), an army statement said.

The exercise was aimed at testing the operational readiness of a Strategic Missile Group, a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations said.

The field exercise of the ASFC was witnessed by the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Khalid Shameem Wynne and other senior military officials and scientists.

It is the second missile test by Pakistan in two weeks.

On April 25 Pakistan had successfully launched a medium range ballistic nuclear capable missile Hatf-4 Shaheen-1A weapons system.

Pakistan conducted missile tests following India test-fired its first Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), Agni-V last month.

The Thursday’s successful test has also been warmly appreciated by the President Asif Asli zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani who have congratulated the participating ASFC troops, the scientists and the engineers on their outstanding success, the army said.

Addressing the troops in the exercise area, General Wynne commended the troops on displaying a high standard of proficiency in handling and operating the state of the art weapon system, the statement said.

He said that the nation had developed a strong nuclear deterrence capability and expected that the officers and men entrusted with the task of deterring aggression would continue to train hard and maintain professional excellence.

He said that Pakistan’s Armed Forces were fully capable of safeguarding the country’s security against aggression, the statement said.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 1017527