Strategic deterrent: Pakistan test-fires Hatf II

Missile has a 180km range and can deliver nuclear, conventional warheads.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan on Friday conducted a successful test of the Hatf II (Abdali) short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Hatf II (Abdali) with a range of 180 km can carry nuclear as well as conventional warheads with high accuracy. The weapon system with its varied maneuverability options provides an operational level capability to Pakistan’s Strategic Forces, it added.

The test was witnessed by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General (Retd) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, Commander Army Strategic forces Command, Lieutenant General Tariq Nadeem Gilani, senior officers from the strategic forces and scientists and engineers of strategic organizations.

“The President and Prime Minister of Pakistan congratulated the scientists and engineers on this outstanding achievement which consolidates Pakistan’s deterrence capability both at the operational and strategic levels,” said the ISPR statement.

The latest test was the second one this week. Earlier on February 11, Pakistan test-fired another short range surface to surface missile named Hatf IX.



Hatf IX, with a range of 60km, and in-flight maneuver capability, can carry nuclear warheads of appropriate yield as well as with high accuracy.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2013.