Strategic weapons: Pakistan tests short-range ballistic missile

The 180-km range missile can carry nuclear and conventional warheads.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has successfully test-fired a short-range ballistic missile capable of carrying atomic warheads.

The Hatf II (Abdali) has a range of 180 kilometres and carries nuclear as well as conventional warheads with ‘high accuracy’, according to a military statement. “It provides an operational level capability to Pakistan’s strategic forces, additional to the strategic and tactical level capability which Pakistan already possesses,” the statement added.

Pakistan’s arsenal includes short, medium and long-range missiles named after Muslim conquerors. India and Pakistan have routinely carried out missile tests since both demonstrated nuclear weapons capability in 1998.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2012.