Pakistan has conducted a successful test of an enhanced range version of the indigenously developed Babur cruise missile 1B, the military's media affairs wing said on Tuesday.

According to The Associated Press, the cruise missile has a range of more than 900 kilometres, twice the distance of an earlier missile of the same model.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that today's launch was witnessed by Strategic Plans Division Director General Lieutenant General Nadeem Zaki Manj, National Engineering and Scientific Commission Chairman Dr Raza Samar and Commander Army Strategic Force Command Lieutenant General Muhammad Ali.

Senior officers from the Strategic Plans Division, Strategic Forces, scientists and the engineers of strategic organisations were also present.

The director general of the Strategic Plans Division congratulated the scientists and engineers on "achieving excellence in the domain of cruise missile technology and expressed his full confidence that this test will further strengthen Pakistan’s strategic deterrence," the ISPR statement said.

President Dr Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Nadeem Raza and the services chiefs also congratulated the scientists and engineers on conducting the successful launch, the statement said.

In February, the military had successfully test-fired an earlier version of the missile with the capability to hit land and sea targets up to 450 kilometres away.

The Babur cruise missile 1A was launched from a "state of the art Multi Tube Missile Launch Vehicle", the ISPR statement had said.

Opinion

Editorial

High troop losses
Updated 24 Dec, 2024

High troop losses

Continuing terror attacks show that our counterterrorism measures need a revamp. Localised IBOs appear to be a sound and available option.
Energy conundrum
24 Dec, 2024

Energy conundrum

THE onset of cold weather in the country has brought with it a familiar woe: a severe shortage of piped gas for...
Positive cricket change
24 Dec, 2024

Positive cricket change

HEADING into their Champions Trophy title defence, Pakistan are hitting the right notes. Mohammad Rizwan’s charges...
Internet restrictions
Updated 23 Dec, 2024

Internet restrictions

Notion that Pakistan enjoys unprecedented freedom of expression difficult to reconcile with the reality of restrictions.
Bangladesh reset
23 Dec, 2024

Bangladesh reset

THE vibes were positive during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent meeting with Bangladesh interim leader Dr...
Leaving home
23 Dec, 2024

Leaving home

FROM asylum seekers to economic migrants, the continuing exodus from Pakistan shows mass disillusionment with the...