Pakistan test-fires Shaheen-I missile

Islamabad, Nov 29 (UNI) Pakistan today successfully test-fired nuclear-capable medium range ballistic missile, HATF-4 (Shaheen-I), which can hit its targets accurately up to 700 kilometers.

''The launch was carried out by the troops of the Strategic Missile Group (SMG) as part of the ongoing exercises of the Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC),'' said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The missile, which can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads, was handed over to the ASFC a few years ago.

This was Pakistan's second missile test in the past thirteen days. On November 16, ASFC had conducted successful test flight of the intermediate ballistic range missile, HATF-5, (Ghauri) with a range of 1,300 kimlometers.

'' Wednesday's event marked the culmination phase of the training exercise and validated the operational readiness of the SMG equipped with (surface-to-surface) Shaheen-I Missiles,'' said the statement.

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Ehsan-ul-Haq witnessed the test and congratulated the officers and other ranks of the ASFC.

''Pakistan can be justifiably proud of its defence capability and reliability of its nuclear deterrence,'' said the CJCSC.

He lauded efforts by all personnel (civilian and military) whose dedication and professionalism made it possible for Pakistan to fully consolidate and operationalise its nuclear capability in the last seven years.

''This capability formed the bedrock of Pakistan's security policy and will be fully supported by the Government,'' Gen Haq said.

Pakistan has been test-firing different versions of short and medium range delivery systems since April 1998 when it first conducted test of Ghauri-1 intermediate range missile, which can hit targets as far away as 1,500 kilometres and is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads.

HATF-3 (Ghaznavi), HATF-5 (Ghauri), HATF-4 (Shaheen-1) have already inducted into the Pakistan Army.

Pakistan had also conducted the test fire of the surface-to-surface long-range Shaheen-II (HATF-6) missiles ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM), Babur in March and August 2005 respectively.

Shaheen-II and GLCM Babur can carry any types of warheads accurately up to 2,000 and 550 km respectively.

UNI XC SK ND1206