How Far Can Pakistan’s Missiles Reach? A Complete Look At Its Arsenal From Tactical To Strategic Systems

As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to rise, a major incident occurred in the early hours of May 10, when a Pakistani ballistic missile, the Fatah-II, was intercepted and neutralised by Indian defence forces over Haryana's Sirsa. According to reports, the missile may have been targeting Delhi, but the Barak-8 air defence system successfully thwarted the threat before any damage could occur.

The Fatah-II: is just one of many missiles in Pakistan's growing arsenal. Here is a detailed overview of the key missiles in Pakistan's inventory and the strategic reach they provide across the region. Fatah-II is a hypersonic ballistic missile with a 400 km estimated range that is guided precisely. The Fatah-II may carry low-yield nuclear bombs or conventional explosives and is designed for deep attacks into hostile territory. Its design and characteristics are similar to those of China's PHL series and the United States' GMLRS, two sophisticated battlefield missile systems.

Shaheen-III: With a range of up to 2,750 kilometres, the Shaheen-III is currently Pakistan's longest-range missile. This surface-to-surface missile is intended to cover all of India and portions of the Middle East. It can be equipped with both conventional and nuclear warheads. Its solid-fuel propulsion guarantees enhanced operational survival and a faster deployment.

Short-Range Missiles

Hatf-II Abdali: The Abdali is a tactical surface-to-surface missile with a 200-300 km range. Up to 500 kg of conventional or nuclear warheads can be delivered by it. Compared to previous iterations, the missile's inertial guidance system offers improved accuracy.

Ghaznavi (Hatf-III): Another short-range system is the Ghaznavi (Hatf-III), which has an effective range of roughly 290 to 320 kilometres. It can launch quickly since it uses solid fuel and can carry nuclear bombs. The Abdali missile's payload capacity is comparable to this one.

Nasr (Hatf-IX): A tactical missile with a 70 km range, the Nasr was created for use in combat situations. It is designed to operate as a tactical-level nuclear deterrent in traditional military conflicts by delivering low-yield nuclear weapons in close-quarters combat situations.

Cruise and Coastal Defence Missiles

Harba: A cruise missile launched from a ship, the Harba's estimated range is 300-450 kilometres. It is thought to be versatile enough to be used against both land-based and sea-based targets, and it greatly increases Pakistan's marine attack potential.

Zarb: The purpose of this coastal defence missile is to attack enemy naval ships that are getting close to Pakistan's maritime borders. It is a vital component of Pakistan's coastal security system, with an estimated operational range of 280 to 300 kilometres.

Pakistan's missile program, ranging from tactical battlefield systems to long-range strategic assets, has long been a focus of international concern. The recent interception of the Fatah-II missile over Indian territory underscores not only the threat posed by such weapons but also the increasing importance of advanced missile defence systems like the Barak-8 in preventing conflict escalation.