Maintaining deterrence: Pakistan test-fires nuclear-capable missile
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the test-fire was aimed at re-validating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system. “Shaheen1A missile is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 900 kilometres,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
The latest test came three days after the Pakistani military successfully test-fired another nuclear-capable missile, which has a range of 1,500 kilometres.
The Shaheen-IA missile, also known as Hatf-VI, was launched from an undisclosed location in the country, targeting somewhere in the Arabian Sea.
“Today’s launch, with impact point in the Arabian Sea, was witnessed by the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, Director General Strategic Plans Division, Lt Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, Lt Gen Obaid Ullah Khan, Vice Admiral Zafar Mehmood Abbasi, Commander Pakistan Fleet, Chairman NESCOM, Muhammad Irfan Burney, senior officers from the strategic forces, scientists and engineers of strategic organisations,” the ISPR said.
Naval chief Admiral Zakaullah congratulated the scientists and engineers for their dedication, professionalism and commitment towards achieving Pakistan’s full spectrum credible minimum deterrence capability.
Shaheen-1A with its highly accurate and indigenously developed guidance system is amongst the most accurate missile system, official statement said.
The naval chief reiterated Pakistan’s desire for peaceful co-existence in the region. He appreciated the professional attributes of all concerned towards accomplishment of the sacred mission. He showed his full confidence in the Pakistani armed forces’ capability to safeguard security of the motherland against any aggression.
The successful test launch was also warmly appreciated by the president and the prime minister who congratulated the participating troops, the scientists and engineers on their outstanding achievement.
Pakistan has tested a wide range of missiles, including nuclear-capable, ranging from the Hatf-IX tactical missile with a range of 60 kilometres to Hatf-IV, in recent months as part of efforts to strengthen its nuclear arsenal to counter India’s conventional superiority.
Last week, the Indian army also test-fired a new nuclear-capable surface-to-surface missile, Prithvi-II (Earth-II), with a range of 350 kilometers in the eastern state of Odisha.
The latest Pakistani test was the 5th in 2014 and was part of Pakistan’s efforts to maintain a ‘minimum credible deterrence.’ On November 17, intermediate range Shaheen 1A (Hatf IV) ballistic missile (900km) was test-fired; on November 13, intermediate range Shaheen-II (Hatf-VI) (1500km) was tested; On September 26, short range surface-to-surface missile Hatf IX (NASR) (60km) was test-launched; On May 8, short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf III (Ghaznavi) (290km) was test-fired, while on April 22, short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf III (Ghaznavi) (290km) was tested.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2014.
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In contrast to Indian aggressive posture , Pakistan has always adopted a reactive policy. It exercised the nuclear option essentially in response to the compulsions of its security environment. The only proactive component of Pakistan's policy pertained to its initiatives to keep South Asia free of nuclear weapons pursued during 1974 to 1998 and proposals for nuclear restraint since the 1998 tests. Clearly, India's nuclear programme is status driven, whereas Pakistan's has been security motivated. It is important to place the Indian nuclear doctrine in the historical perspective of India's nuclear policy before we can examine its implications for the region and beyond as well as for the global nuclear non-proliferation objectives.
Ever since the nuclearization of South Asia in 1998, Pakistan strongly pursued the “credible minimum deterrence” for its nuclear capability. The country knows very well how to deal with its socioeconomic issues other than anyone else. But at the same time, it is fully aware of the potential threat embedded in the Eastern neighborhood. Pakistan can’t endanger itself that is why it is fully adhere to protect its territorial integrity and political sovereignty at any cost. The new BJP government of India reflects many times its aggressive intentions towards Pakistan. So afterwards, nothing is left except than to maintain its deterrent capability against a hostile belligerent.
Another great feat... this truly shows that Pakistan's missile technology is maturing at a great pace, and by testing, has proven the credibility of their technology.
First of all it is a moment of immense pleasure for the country and its defense sector that it has once again showed the worth and capabilities of the scientists and engineers in the respective field. Pakistan nuclear and missile program was born out of its security architecture and India's aggressive postures which made the country to go for the same route and try to maintain the balance of power in the region. The latest Shaheen missile test have once again strengthened the deterrence capability of Pakistan in response to any foreign intervention and aggression. Pakistan's intentions are purely security oriented and to maintain the regional strategic balance and must not be seen as aggressive one.
Given that India’s nuclear weapons programme and the mad pursuit of research and development in Ballistic Missile Defence is totally inconsistent with a no-first-use posture and rather adds to unpredictability and uncertainty. Pakistan has been pursuing the policy of Credible Minimum Deterrence to meet the national security challenges and to maintain the regional strategic stability. It is high time for India to stop any misadventure in making bombs and come join in hands to co-exist peacefully otherwise Pakistan simply knows how to maintain and secure its borders.
"Shaheen-1A with its highly accurate and indigenously developed guidance system is among st the most accurate missile system, official statement said." -----GUIDANCE SYSTEM DEVELOPED INDIGENOUSLY is appreciable. The organization and /or scientists who developed the system locally should be recognized and suitably rewarded. Alternately if the statement is untrue it should be avoided in future.
These missile antics with north korean and chinese junks don't impress anyone anymore outside Pakistan - certainly not India. Very soon the world will ask why should they give any grants to Pakistan when it has so much money to blow up in smoke.
the same old chinese and korean stuff tested for the last decades... we are tired of this nonsense... it seems we have nothing new to show or develop... or because of lack of funds, we cannot buy new stuff from china and claim as ours...
It is great to see we have nuclear bombs and nuclear attack missiles and the programs are still going strong. So what if a few dozen kids keep dying of starvation every week we still have a million man army and the bombs. Looks like even the grass does not grow in Thar desert for poor kids to eat. We can still nurture larger army than all the European armies combined.