Pak successfully test-fires nuclear-capable missile with 650-km range

Pakistan on Monday (November 18) successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface ballistic missile that can strike targets up to 650 kilometres.

The test-firing of the Shaheen-I missile by the Pakistani military took place amidst Indo-Pak tensions over New Delhi revoking Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. It is to be noted that the missile’s shooting range can cover a number of Indian cities.

According to Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Asif Ghafoor, the launch of Shaheen-I missile was held as part of a training exercise “aimed at testing the operational readiness of Army Strategic Forces Command”.

The ISPR chief tweeted, “The Shaheen-1 missile is capable of delivering all types of warheads up to range of 650 KMs.” He had also said that the launch was aimed at testing operational readiness of Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC) ensuring Pakistan’s credible minimum deterrence.

Pakistan successfully conducted training launch of SSBM
Shaheen-1 capable of delivering all types of warheads upto range of 650 KMs. Launch was aimed at testing operational readiness of Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC) ensuring Pakistan’s credible minimum deterrence. pic.twitter.com/xXynslmjLt

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) November 18, 2019

“Troops displayed a high standard of proficiency in handling and operating the potent weapon system, ensuring Pakistan’s credible minimum deterrence,” the ISPR, the media wing of the Pakistani military, said.

The Pakistani missile test also came days after India conducted the first night trial of Agni-II, its versatile surface-to-surface medium-range nuclear-capable missile. The Agni-II missile has a strike range of 2,000 km and is an intermediate-range ballistic missile. It has already been inducted into the armed forces.

India and Pakistan have been at odds after New Delhi abrogated the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcated it into two union territories. Pakistan reacted strongly to India’s decision and downgraded bilateral ties and expelled the Indian envoy.

India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was an internal matter. It has also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.