Pakistan test launches surface-to-surface Shaheen-II Ballistic Missile
Pakistan successfully conducted a training launch of its surface-to-surface
ballistic missile, Shaheen-II, on Tuesday, according to a statement from the
military.
The launch aimed to train troops, validate various technical parameters, and
evaluate the performance of different sub-systems incorporated to enhance
accuracy and survivability.
The event was attended by senior officers from the Strategic Plans Division
and Army Strategic Forces Command, as well as scientists and engineers from
strategic organizations.
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The Shaheen-II missile is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear
warheads with a range of up to 1,500 kilometers (932 miles).
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Joint Chiefs of
Staff Committee Chairman Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza, and the services chiefs
congratulated the scientists and engineers involved in the project.
Pakistan and India, the two South Asian rivals, are among a few countries
possessing nuclear arsenals. India became a nuclear power in 1974, which
prompted Pakistan to develop its own nuclear capability in the 1980s. Pakistan
conducted its first nuclear tests in 1998, shortly after India conducted a
series of tests.
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According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India
currently possesses between 80 and 100 nuclear warheads, while Pakistan holds
between 90 and 110.
Source: Anadolu