Full spectrum deterrence: Pakistan test-fires Nasr missile

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan successfully test-fired its short range surface-to-surface missile Hatf IX (Nasr) on Friday as part of its full spectrum deterrence in view of the prevailing threats.

The test fire was conducted with the successive launch of four missiles from a multi-tube launcher with salvo mode. NASR, with a range of 60 km and in-flight manoeuvre capability is a quick response system, with shoot and scoot attributes, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement.

“It contributes to the full spectrum deterrence against the prevailing threat spectrum,” the statement added.



“Full spectrum of threat means that we cannot remain oblivious to all aspects including conventional and sub-conventional,” a military official explained.

The full spectrum deterrence is meant to pre-empt India’s ‘cold start doctrine’ which allows India’s conventional forces to perform swift and unexpected attacks, within 72 hours, before international pressure could come to bear on India and before the Pakistani military could react.

The flight test was witnessed by the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Rashad Mahmood, DGl Strategic Plans Division, Lt Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, Lt Gen Obaidullah Khan, NESCOM chairman Muhammad Irfan Burney, senior officers from the strategic forces and scientists and engineers of strategic organisations, ISPR said.

General Rashad Mahmood congratulated the scientists and engineers on achieving yet another milestone towards Pakistan’s deterrence capability.

The successful test launch has also been warmly appreciated by the president and prime minister who congratulated the participating troops, the scientists and engineers on their outstanding achievement.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2014.