Pak conducts test launch of surface-to-surface ballistic missile

Islamabad, November 18

Pakistan on Monday conducted a successful test launch of a surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of delivering all types of warheads up to 650 kilometres, the military announced.

According to a press release issued by the media wing of Pakistani military, the launch of Shaheen-1 missile was held as part of a training exercise “aimed at testing the operational readiness of Army Strategic Forces Command”.

The Shaheen-1 missile is capable of delivering all types of warheads up to range of 650 km, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) tweeted.

“The launch was aimed at testing operational readiness of Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC) ensuring Pakistan’s credible minimum deterrence,” it said.

The Pakistani missile test came days after India conducted the first night trial of ‘Agni-II’, its versatile surface-to-surface medium-range nuclear-capable missile.

The ‘Agni-II’ missile has a strike range of 2,000 km and is an intermediate range ballistic missile. It has already been inducted into the armed forces.

The Pakistani missile test took place amid bilateral tensions between India and Pakistan after New Delhi abrogated the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcated it into union territories. PTI