<p>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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.”<br />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.”<br /><br />Gilani assured the military that his government would “continue to support the strategic programme and meet all its needs.”<br /><br />Both Ghaznavi, also known as Hatf-III, and Shaheen I, also known as Hatf-IV, can carry conventional and nuclear warheads.</p>
<p>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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.”<br />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.”<br /><br />Gilani assured the military that his government would “continue to support the strategic programme and meet all its needs.”<br /><br />Both Ghaznavi, also known as Hatf-III, and Shaheen I, also known as Hatf-IV, can carry conventional and nuclear warheads.</p>