Pakistan:

Pakistan test-fires ballistic missile

Daily Times, Saturday, March 12, 2011

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday successfully test fired its short range surface to surface (STS) ballistic missile Hataf-2 (Abdali). The missile test was conducted as part of the process of validation and technical improvements in the Land Based Ballistic Missile Systems of the country, an ISPR news release said. Hataf-2 (Abdali) with a range of 180 kilometres can carry nuclear as well as conventional warheads with high accuracy. 

The test was witnessed by Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) Chairman General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Strategic Plans Division Director General, Lieutenant General (r) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, Army Strategic Force Commander Lieutenant General Jamil Haider, Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) Chairman Major General Ahmed Bilal, senior officers from the armed forces and scientists and engineers of strategic organisations. 

CJCSC while speaking on the occasion reiterated that the test would go a long way in consolidating Pakistan’s strategic deterrence capability and further strengthening national security. He said that in the hierarchy of military operations, the Abdali weapons system now provides Pakistan with an operational level capability, additional to the strategic level capability. app

(source:daily times)

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