Pakistan on Thursday conducted a successful training launch of short range surface to surface ballistic missile Hatf III (Ghaznavi).

It is capable of delivering nuclear and conventional warheads up to a range of 290 kilometers.

The successful launch was the culminating point of the Field Training Exercise of Army Strategic Forces Command which was aimed at testing the operational readiness of a Strategic Missile Group besides up-gradation of various capabilities of weapon systems.

The launch was witnessed by the Chief of Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif, Director General Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, and other senior military officials and scientists.

Addressing the participating troops in the exercise area, the army chief appreciated the troops on displaying a very high standard of proficiency in handling and operating these strategic weapon systems.

He reiterated that Pakistan has configured one of the best command and control systems and its armed forces are fully capable of safeguarding Pakistan’s security against any aggression.

President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have congratulated engineers and scientists for the successful test launch of Ghaznavi.