The Pakistan Army on Thursday claimed that it has successfully test-fired the nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile ‘Ghaznavi’ with a range of up to 290 km. This assumes significance amid tension between India and Pakistan in the wake of nullifying of Article 370 giving Jammu and Kashmir special status. The missile test was conducted from a test range in Balochistan.
Pakistan has been trying ratchet up tension by raising the possibility of a nuclear war. And this development is being seen in this perspective.
In a tweet, Pakistan military’s media spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor shared a video of the “night-training launch” of the short range ballistic missile.
According to sources, the Ghaznavi missile is capable of delivering multiple types of warheads up to 290 km, that could cover parts of India.
Experts said the Ghaznavi missile could be an improved ‘Scud’ type ballistic missile. The missile’s warhead can be conventional, high explosive (HE) and nuclear.
Ghafoor said that the Pakistan Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the three services chiefs congratulated the team of experts for successfully testing the missile. Prime Minister Imran Khan also conveyed their appreciation to the team, and congratulated the nation on the feat, he said.
The nuclear-capable missile was launched amid Pakistan’s efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territories.
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