REF:

Rawalpindi - February 13, 2008

No PR-83/2008-ISPR

A Strategic Missile Group (SMG) of the Pakistan Army’s Strategic Force Command (ASFC) today conducted successful training launch of Ghaznavi (Hatf III) Short Range Ballistic Missile. The launch was conducted at the conclusion of annual field training exercise of a Ghaznavi Missile Group. With this launch, ASFC also concluded its highly successful winter collective training, wherein, various Missile Groups conducted firing of live ballistic missiles under realistic operational environment. This was the third consecutive test by ASFC Troops in recent weeks. Earlier two other SMGs had conducted successful launches of Shaheen-1 and Ghauri ballistic missiles. The Ghaznavi Missile has a range of 290 km.

The field launch exercise was witnessed by Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro, Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, senior military officers and scientists. Addressing troops in the exercise area, the Prime Minister congratulated them on achieving excellent training standards of professional readiness. He said that the nation is proud of its strategic forces and scientific organizations for having developed and operationalised a strong nuclear deterrence capability.

The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan stand for peace in the region. He said that peace comes from strength whereas weakness invites aggression. The Pakistani Government is fully committed to retain a strong conventional and unconventional deterrence and will meet all the needs of a strong national defence.

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