- 30 May 2012
Missile technology: Pakistan tests nuclear-capable Hatf IX - 10 May 2012
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Pakistan test-fires Hatf-VII Babur missile
Hatf-VII can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads and has stealth capabilities.
The test will consolidate Pakistan’s strategic deterrence capability, and further strengthen national security. PHOTO: AFP
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan conducted a successful test fire of the multi tube, indigenously developed cruise missile Hatf-VII Babur having a range of 700km, a statement issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
Babur cruise missile is a low flying, terrain hugging missile with high maneuverability, pin point accuracy and radar avoidance features.
It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads and has stealth capabilities.
It also incorporates the most modern cruise missile technology of Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) and Digital Scene Matching and Area Co-relation (DSMAC), which enhances its precision and effectiveness manifolds.
The missile was launched from a state of the art multi tube Missile Launch Vehicle (MLV) which significantly enhances the targeting and employment options of Babur Weapon System in both the conventional and nuclear modes.
The test was witnessed by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Director General Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General Khalid Ahmed Kidwai (retd.), Chairman National Engineering and Scientific Commission (Nescom), Muhammad Irfan Burney, senior officers from the armed forces and strategic organizations, scientists and engineers.
The test will consolidate Pakistan’s strategic deterrence capability, and further strengthen national security.
The successful test was also appreciated by the president and the prime minister, who congratulated the scientists and engineers on their outstanding success.
Reader Comments (101)
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Technical feedback? [email protected]
When will Pakistan engineers design and construct a simple terrain-hugging electric generating power station to get rid of 20 hour-a-day load shedding?
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Deadly Drone Strikes, plenty missiles tests – somethings cookin’ : hmmm
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I am glad this is one more step toward self sufficiency and standing on our own two feet. Now the poverty would be alleviated, nutrition and the healthcare of poor masses improved. There would be no jobless youths living in dark and heat. We have made our choices and should not blame other countries. We have achieved what we always wanted but even grass is getting thin and not enough to eat. When is the deep state going to put our money where our mouths are? These non productive expenses are the worst waste of resources and a luxury suitable for the riches countries not third world country with a begging bowl.
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The rate at which Pakistan is firing its missiles in hot air, it will soon have to buy some more from North Korea. The high-tech paint shop is going to be quite busy for a while.
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Invest in schools today, you will have less investment in missiles tomorrow.
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Well done Pakistani Scientists and engineers for that. The real credit goes to those civilian scientists who are dedicated enough to work for these projects with limited salary and with no perks like other Army officers enjoy who usually take most of the credit besides doing little on these projects.
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Looks like Pakistan is testing new batches of all the groups.
Congrats. Thanks to our engineers and scientists for working to make Pakistan’s defences stronger and stronger.
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We need electricity not these missiles and bombs!
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Can they be used as generators. I am sure plenty would be lying around……………
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so much for “Aman Ki Asha”… what a contrast between intent and action
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According to Wikipedia, Only Five countries use TERCOM technology in their cruise missiles
USA
China
Pakistan
Norway
Turkey
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Again….
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Good, now PAK can use this to weed out the militants hiding in the mountains . There is no need to send in jet planes, as it happened couple of days ago.
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Pakistan is on fire. This is 5th test from Pakistan in less than 1 month. What message we are giving to the world ? I think the message is simple … respect our sovereignty or soon we will reach our elastic limit. Congratulation to 19 million Pakistani on the successful test of Badar Missile and its time to test ICBM. Bring it on
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Nation wants strong economy only strong defense cannot protect our country, as we have seen in the history…..there missiles are useless unless we use them for targeting american drones. These are the show case missiles only for test but not for practical use sad to say like this
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Best way to utilize the increased defense budget. :)
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@Mirza *will You Please stop misguiding people here? What poverty, unemployment,illiteracy have to do with defense budget? These all fields have their own portion in budget. Go and get those politicians and bureaucrats who manage these ministries. Pakistan has portion form budget for defense like any other country all over the world. Stop this nonsense and dont misguide people of whole world. *
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Pakistan could try test firing its multiple missiles towards drones.
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@Mahakaalchakra…Same day when Indian engineers will construct a power station to get rid of 20 hours long loadshedding in India!
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I can feel through the comments, enemies being afraid of our ever increasing technology..!
Pakistan Zindabad!
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@ Mirza
By the way will you please stop misrepresentation? Like every country Pakistan has annual budget and it is distributed in different ministries like health,education,industry,defense,development etc.
Now will you please explain how testing or making missile effecting healthcare,employment,food? All these things have their own budget and defense ministry has its own. Now its up to them whether they want to make missiles or buying fighter jets.
By the way defense budget is only 16 to 18 percent. Where is other 82 % of budget???? that 82 % is all other things which you are trying to say. This is the true condition. Please stop hate and misrepresentation.
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@Faesal: “Thanks to our engineers and scientists for working to make Pakistan’s defences stronger and stronger”…
… as the defences get stronger so do the number of drone strikes. Do be careful you do not over-strengthen your defences.
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I have seen this news on Indian forums and they shared this link and urge all Indians to
post as much Anti Pakistan comments as possible and we can surely feel their presence here.
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@rikky(India):
@Jat:
@Mahakaalchakra:
Thanks for your irrelevant opinion indians
@Mirza
The job of sorting out energy crisis is of your beloved government who is busy looting the national wealth as fast as possible.
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Indian slum population is off the record, the poor population is suffering from hunger and starvation, the suicidal rate is increasing and there is a massive population who is illiterate…No wonder India has a sound economy but only the upper class is benefiting from it, where there is a rich minimal class in mumbai there is also a huge slum population lying within mumbai…but still india is spending so much on armed forces. so indians its time that you should start looking into your own homes rather then intruding in our businesses.
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Nice in retaliation for India’s 5000 km ICBM, Pakistan is testing 10 missiles of 500 km range each.
Gud gud.
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@Naveed Javed:
@Mahakaalchakra:
its not army’s job to provide electricity, ask ur government u didn’t voted for Army. Army has to do its own Job and they are doing it efficiently, Pakistan Army Zindabad
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@Jat:
Stop this typical hatred towards Pakistan or keep living in self denial
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Why doesn’t Pakistan name its missiles after local rulers (irrespective of religion) and not AFGHANI rulers such as Babur, Ghaznavi.
Our local rulers and heroes like Raja Porus who defended the land we presently live in should at least get some recognition and not be flayed in our history books!
The AFGHANS probably laugh at us when we name missiles after their conquerors!
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Please give us electricity! We are sinking!!!
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This is just the Pakistani Army playing with its toys while the country burns. All the nuclear bombs and missiles the Pakistani Army imports will not bring honor and respect for the country globally.
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Multiple tests by Pakistan and deteriorating situation in the region seems something fishy going on. It seems Obama may have something in mind to win the elections.
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@Jat: Ahaan! so about those which are shipped from Russia and half of its electronics from israel??
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@Mian:
Great reasoning!! Now go and bury your head back in the ground.
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@Mian: “What poverty, unemployment,illiteracy have to do with defense budget?”
Your defense budget is 647 billion . If you add military pensions ot is 800 billion. Your education budget is 47 billion. When a country does not have unlimited money, a rupee spent on defense reduces a rupee spent on education. Out of 100 rupees of tax collected in Pakistan 61 goes to debt servicing and 43 goes to defense. SO country has no choice but to borrow if it wants to spend even a small amount on healthcare, electricity, education.
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Heartiest Congratulations to all the scientists and engineers on another achievement.I request Pakistanis to always be positive .Never think negative .Allah has given us one of the best land and one of the best people in this world .We should be thankful to Allah and have firm believe in ourselves .This country will rise Inshallah.
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but still such missile cannot stop drone attacks.
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Congrats to all on the successful test.
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@Mahakaalchakra
Our engineers are very well capable of building the dams and power generating units. Its our political system and kickbacks that are not allowing them to work on these projects.
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Maybe we should help India put their satellite in orbit
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Most people commenting here think that it is Army’s job to provide electricity… Put every failure of the civillian govt on Pak Army..
Long Live Pak Army
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@ Pungi
Right on…
@Mahakaalchakra
Before Indian engineers make power plants to end load shedding there is an acute shortage of food that they need to take care of… but oops!!! engineers cant do that,,,do they?
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@Pungi:
Could you please tell where in India?
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@Mo Sheikh:
Oh yes! they do laugh sometimes. But, more often they are annoyed by some alien country stealing their history and legacy.
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Pakistan Zindabad
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Congrats, need much more to defend Pak motherland, Long Live Pakistan
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Electricity and Education are needed… we have a lot of missiles already
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@anwar: Excellent idea ! Pakistan can use the foreign exchange so earned to repay $ 5 billion IMF installment. Win-win situation for both countries.
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India has kindly offered to export grass to Pakistan. With subsidy.
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@anwar:
First let us see putting your own satellites in orbit.
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Obama to Kiyani “Open NATO supply lines or we will blow you to stone age”
Kiyani to his deputy : “Start flexing muscles”
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so this missile is going to deliver food to every poverty-ridden home in Pakistan?
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@Faesal: I thought Russians are good in defense technologies, but your list does not mention them, it means they are less capable than Chinese who copy Russian tech, may be.
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Congrats to the scientists.
Leave it up to indians to quickly spam comment section with irrelevant comments. Recommend
@Mahakaalchakra:
I appreciate your comments.
Hazrat Ali (ra) , a great companion of our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) , said ” Dont see who is saying it , rather look at WHAT he/she is saying”.
Regards….
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Instead of wasting all the resources on this stuff invest in healthcare infrastructure education against which country do we intend to use this stuff. example of soviet union is in front of us even with all the military might they possessed the state could not survive there is no electricity, no gas now what are we supposed to do dance with joy after launching of this missile.
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@Zafir:
These missiles are not intended to “stop drone strikes”.
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Though a strong army is a must but nothing, except ‘economic stability and strength’ can guarantee the survival of Pakistan… we are wrong if we think stockpiles of weapons will save us. Remember what happened to USSR?
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An Arsenal of missiles and nuclear weapons…. exactly what every failed state with a bad ideology needs…
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@Mahakaalchakra:
like to know more let?
According to WFP, India accounts around 50% of the world’s hungry. (more than in the whole of Africa) and its fiscal deficit is one of the highest in the world. India’s Global Hunger Index (GHI) score is 23.7, a rank of 66th out of 88 countries. India’s rating is slightly above Bangladesh but below all other South Asian nations and India is listed under “ALARMING” category. Ref: IFPRI Country Report on India
Around six out of 10 Indians live in the countryside, where abject poverty is widespread. 34.7 % of the Indian population lives with an income below $ 1 a day and 79.9 % below $ 2 a day. According to the India’s planning commission report 26.1 % of the population live below the poverty line. [World Bank’s poverty line of $1 a day, but the Indian poverty line of Rs 360 a month, or 30 cents a day].
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@Jat:
You guys are the clearer winner.Russians taught you guys about the paint job better then N`Koreans D:.
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I am Pakistani and my 1st preference will be investment in missiles rather than in Electricity..
What will be the use of electricity when we will not be able to save our sovereignty?
Keep Testing … waiting for 5000km+ range missiles..
Pakistan Zinadabad!
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This is what Pakistan gets for spending 20% of budget on defence fireworks two three times a week. All these missile test this frequently causing pollution in the atmosphere and damage to ozone layer.
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@Anwar: India holds the record for putting most satellites in orbit in one go. Indian flag is also on the moon. We can do it cheaper than the west.
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@ Every One,
We are good at copying and buying licensed missile designs from Korea & China. We have a range of missiles available not a single has been used or fired at NATO or US forces. (I know we cannot do that because we will fail in a conventional war from them).
One thing we can do instead of using money on these so called experiments we can put money to create an Energy Bank or Fund where money can be saved or deposited for the people and industry of Pakistan to extinguish the circular debt.
I know people will not like the idea as Pakistani missile industry has gone a long way without being fired a single one.
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CONGRATULATIONS….hope this missile can shoot a drone down…
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@Pungi:
I have to give u credit, always concerned about your neighbors problems instead of you own. How great of you!
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bring it on….
its something we Pakistanis can cheer about n proud of….
BRING IT ON MAN::::::FEEL THE HEAT, MAY GOD BLESS MY COUNTRY :)
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@Mian:
The point is what % of the budget?
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Every time there is a Pakistani missile test, it is very interesting to see Indians jumping on the opportunity with their sarcastic comments about load-shedding, electricity problem. On the other hand probably 40% of Indian population has NO electricity. There are rolling-blackouts in every major city in India while comments from Indians seem to suggest that India is mini-USA. If Indians on this forum spend that much energy on Indian forums, may be it will help resolving tons and tons of problems India has. I think Indians are living too much in BOLLYWOOD fantasy…
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As a Pakistani, I want an end to waste of precious money on useless missiles. Enough of missiles and bombs.
National security comes through economic security. A country with economy in the mess will never know peace and security.
Pakistan should sell all the missiles to USA and invest the proceeds in energy producing plants with cheap electricity available 24/7 to run factories, offices, and homes. When economic activity increases, peace will follow and terrorism will end.Recommend
@Faesal:
One disadvantage of TERCOM systems is that the entire route has to be pre-planned, including its launch point. If the missile is launched from an unexpected location or flies too far off-course, it will never fly over the features included in the maps, and become lost. The INS system can help in this regard, allowing it to fly to the general area of the first patch, but gross errors simply cannot be corrected. This makes TERCOM based systems much less flexible than more modern systems like GPS, which can be set to attack any location from any location, and does not require any sort of pre-recorded information which means they can be targeted immediately prior to launch.
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Good Job Well Done!!! And to the people who are criticising, this may look like an opportunity cost but one should not forget that its the need of hour to be well equipped ~ Inshallah all the other problems will be soon be addressed as well… Pakistan Zindabad
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@Mahakaalchakra: Mate Pakistan engineers have done that. Haven’t you heard the scientist Dr Samar Mubarakmand lately and his projects in balochistan for coal.
It’s the political governament of Zardari that does not let that happen because they get more money by other ways.
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Tax payers money utilized to conduct these tests. People deprived of basic health facilities and education. We need this money to fight polio and Hepatitis.
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Congratulations to Pakistan on the missile launch. This will definitely give pause to all the nations of the world that have designs to conquer the prize that is today’s Pakistan.
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@Deepwater. Believe me friend, Pakistan, if managed & governed properly is much more than a prize.
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Indians with as usual comments on bashing of Pakistani Army and same comments that Pakistan is a failed state and stupid comments about drones and same age old comments that we dont need it is now a norm of ET but i have over the weeks many old ET readers from Pakistan are no longer commenting and surely ET viewership will decrease as there should be a limit to malign our country with our own names. The enemy is so much frustrated that they are urging Pakistan not go through this advancement and this shows their Complex with Pakistan and envy with Pakistan. Kargil conflict and American invasion were evaded only because of Strategic weapons and if Pakistan would not have it then Peshawar and Lahore will be US bases and we will see the same fate like Afghanistan. Nuclear weapons and missiles protected us and we should stand by this program very firmly
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@Pakistan politics:
@Mian:
Its ironic that every time people try to blame politicians for every mismanagement .. Do you really think every one is an ostrich or that dumb?
If any thing they have ruled it in bits and pieces marked by poking from Establishment .. less than half terms of tenures etc etc .. so I would pass the buck back to Army who rules this country for half of its life and not in bits & pieces but every time they come they rule for decades .. Then I would ask why is there load shedding although jut recently Army ruled for 10 years from 1999 till 2008 .. and before that Gen Zia from 1978 till 1988
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@Mahakaalchakra:
The day these politician will have to suffer 1 hour loadshedding…. they will definitely allow us to work on this problem ……… till now they dnt even know the meaning of load shedding…..Recommend
@peter norton:
Just one word reply for you.
Your statement is not true.
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I will ask to those who are fingering on PAK Army.. What you did for your country Pakistan..Please answer me those all who are fingering against Pakistan ArmyRecommend
can we shoot a drone first…if not then all this hardware is useless, if the country’s sovereignty cannot be protected.
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@Jat:
for your kind information,these missiles are indiginously developed by pakistan..these are not painted..you must be a stupid Indian that is why you couldn,t bear this.Recommend
@gp65 pensioners are pakistani and its their right. if some one is doing his job fine and other is not. than it means we stop right 1 to do his job. its not fair.. some how pakistan is working fine in defence field. InshAllah we will get rid of these corrupt politicians who are not collecting taxes and eating our education and health budgets.. Long Live Pakistan
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So another million dollars down the drain? Could have reduced the circular debt, at least dented it a bit.
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Proving that Pakistani or Indian missile are imported from Mar and Venus will not end the fight but may be a little boost to false pride. Missiles will kill you irrespective of the make, model and country of origin.
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It’s the Governments job to provide electricity NOT the MILITARY’S job !
Why are we being so negative and soo illerate?
We need to think and analysis situation before jumping to conclusin.
There is a reason why Pakistan Army is firing these missiles, no army wants to fire missiles for no reason !
Indians need to back off and correct their own homes before pointing their fingers at us becuase we as a whole nation can remind Indians what Pakistanis can do if we get angry !
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@Mian:
It is simple math. If you have Rs.100 you can spend 80 on missiles and the remaining on everything else like food, healthcare, education, communications, etc. or spend Rs.10 on missiles and the rest on necessities. Mian sahib the budget is simply the process of allocating expenses. If defense has a budget then it can be reduced to pay for something else that may be necessary.
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@Ordinary Villager:
Couldn’t agree more with you brother. These indians here show severe complex and insecurity. They tell us how to spend our money but fail to look at themselves. 800 million indians don’t the luxury of toilet. 75% or more live on two dollars a less per month yet they find nothing wrong in spending hundreds of billions on defence spending.
PS: ET is loosing Pakistani viewership because of keeping loose hands on indian trolls.
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This is why the world does not like us. Want to know why we will never be respected? Its because of this stuff that we do.
We are deep in debt, our school system is a joke, we cannot keep the electricity flowing (not even in hospitals), majority of the people have little to no access to sanitation or clean water, etc etc
But no. We would rather waste money on useless missiles.
Why?
Has India ever threatened us or invaded our country? NO!
But we have!
Now who do you think the world is going to trust when it comes to important global issues of security?
The world’s most dangerous terrorist was found not in some remote village or mountain but, NEAR OUR CAPITAL!
We have only embarrassed ourselves, our forefathers, and our children…shame on us all!
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@Shahbaz: No one is saying that these pensioners do not desrve their pension. I am simply saying that pension of armed forces should be included in the defense budget – which it is not. Hence to arrive at the correct figure of the defence money spent, you have to add pensions to the stated figure spent on defense.
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Once again, Pakistan test fires missile bought from China and Pakistani people are congratulating Pakistani scientists. So it seems the scientists in Pakistan has only learned how to make missile if this is indeed their design. Can these rich country of super smart scientist make their own rocket to launch their own satellite to space ? even their recent communication satellite is a re-furbished satellite from China. Somehow the scientists of Pakistan have failed to design their own car, trains and even a single super computer. YET people of Pakistan feel their scientist are capable of making missiles. Kudos !! :)
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@John B: Not on the hideouts of terrorists (they are actually assets) it will be used at the another Bugti (political opponent),if he/ she dares to stand for the rights of their provinces.
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@gp65: Excellent, agreed.
@ Mirza: agreed 100 %, I always appreciate your comments, well done/
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@Seema: Well said !
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@mr. righty rightist: Our wold’s 5th strongest army could not sustain one phone call of American Foreign office, and offered them unconditional use on our bases, like shamsi airbase, and opened the routs for NATO, 18 cror public don’t know what conditions were set by Musharruf govt for allowing drone strikes, Still lot to say about Aafia and other missing persons but restricted to limited detail bcoz of ET’s policy, otherwise comments will be censored. :( Recommend
@Jat:
untill you accept the strength of your enemy, you want be able to defend yourself. Remember India was , till 1962 having same opinion about China as you have for Pakistan.
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@antanu g: You are right. That is why lessons have been learned and we like to keep a close watch on our neighbors.
And about Pakistan; we are very worried – don’t want anarchy or civil war there as India will be affected the most. You are misreading the intentions of most Indians here.
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whats their good ? will it provide bread to hungry ? or will it substitute the R&D of any University ? Will it substitute the 20-hour load-shedding ? Sad state of the affairs is that people living below the poverty line are increasing by the day, we have acute shortage of electricity, there has been an unprecedented increase in the suicide rates. This missile is a Shame for all of us !
Nothing to be proud of .. we can’t even defend our borders – quite evident from the every day drone-strikes.
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waste of money, hard earned foreign excchange, whom this will be ‘targetted’ india no now a ‘friendly country.
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