The armed forces conducted “training launches” of Shaheen-I missile with a range of 650 km and Ghaznavi missile with a range of 290 km, at the conclusion of an annual field training exercise of the Army Strategic Force Command.
The tests carried out in the presence of Gilani were aimed at “testing the operational readiness of the Strategic Missile Groups equipped with Ghaznavi and Shaheen missile systems,” said a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations.
Addressing troops in the exercise area, Gilani emphasised that “it was time for the world to recognise Pakistan as a de jure nuclear power with equal rights and responsibilities.”
Gilani demanded that the country be given a waiver by the Nuclear Suppliers Group for civil nuclear energy cooperation as “energy is a vital economic security need of Pakistan and nuclear energy is a clean way forward.”
Gilani assured the military that his government would “continue to support the strategic programme and meet all its needs.”
Both Ghaznavi, also known as Hatf-III, and Shaheen I, also known as Hatf-IV, can carry conventional and nuclear warheads.
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